Measuring interdisciplinarity in the context of sustainability research projects toward capacity building in higher education

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical framework toward facilitating the quantitative measurement of interdisciplinary understanding regarding sustainable energy systems with an application in the area of capacity-building projects in higher education.
Design/methodology/approach

The analytical framework is developed using the portfolio representation measurement approach in combination with a survey questionnaire. The subsequent assessment is carried out using the statistical measure of mean signed deviation to capture variation from an established baseline across the project group and visualized via radar diagrams.
Findings

The results provide a quantitative assessment framework for evaluating the degree of interdisciplinary understanding in the project groups. The application of the framework to the DESIRE project indicates the most significant degree of variation across economic and regulatory dimensions of sustainability. Discrepancies in general and educational contexts are observed.
Research limitations/implications

The exploitable value of the results is sensitive to the derivation of composite indicators of the dimensions defined as well as the survey design. The case study was carried out on an ex-post basis, potentially biasing the results reported and limiting their interpretability and theoretical value.
Practical implications

The analytical framework can be used as a basis for assessing and engaging in discussions on interdisciplinarity understanding at the outset of capacity-building projects.
Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is practical in scope and entails the development of a quantitative framework for measuring interdisciplinarity in the specific context of capacity-building projects in the field of sustainability research in higher education institutions.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)301-319
Seitenumfang19
FachzeitschriftInternational Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
Jahrgang23
Ausgabenummer2
Frühes Online-Datum10 Aug. 2021
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 21 Feb. 2022
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85112047193
ORCID /0000-0002-9416-6786/work/141544864

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Energiewirtschaft, energie economics, Capacity-building in higher education, Interdisciplinarity, Measurement of interdisciplinarity, Sustainability, Sustainable energy systems

Bibliotheksschlagworte