The project explored the work of a sample of academic staff, drawn from King’s College London in the UK and the University of Melbourne in Australia, who were engaging in interdisciplinary research or teaching. Interviewees were asked what had motivated them to do so and about the issues that had arisen as a result. The intention of the project was to understand this aspect of academic work and to consider ways in which it might be supported.
Original Proposal
SDP leader: Paul Blackmore, King's College London
Steering group membership
Paul Blackmore, King’s College London
Richard James, University of Melbourne
Bruce McFarlane, Thames Valley University
Project's administrative home
King’s College London
Introduction
The capacity to work in an interprofessional or interdisciplinary way (interworking) is increasingly important in universities. Many new areas of knowledge cut across traditional boundaries, especially with the growth of highly applied “third stream” research. However, effective collaborative working relationships are often hard to establish. There are usually structural problems to surmount. There may also be socio-cultural and epistemological differences that are unacknowledged but that may be powerful in their effects. These present a challenge for leaders and managers, whether they are members of academic departments and research centres or of a university’s support services.
Aims and objectives
The project aims to identify factors that promote effective interworking and to produce development materials for effective interworking leadership.
The project will:
- Identify examples of effective interworking in two institutions
- Investigate the ways in which socio-cultural, epistemological and leadership issues present themselves and are dealt with
- Identify principles for effective practice
- Produce examples of effective practice
- Produce development materials to support interworking leadership development
Participants
King’s College London is a research-intensive institution with a major engagement in medicine (including Guy’s and St Thomas’s hospitals). Health is a prime area for interprofessional working, where difficulties have frequently been reported. King’s has very strong traditional disciplines, which present a challenge for inter-working.
The University of Melbourne is a leading research-intensive institution in Australia. The Centre for the Study of Higher Education is a very successful research and development centre at Melbourne that undertakes research into higher education policy and practice and offers an accredited programme in academic leadership.
Methodology
A brief literature review will inform the form and focus of the inquiry. The project will take an appreciative inquiry approach, exploring cases where professional and/or disciplinary groups are working effectively together. The project team will conduct interviews in each institution, involving academic and support services leaders and managers, to identify suitable cases for exploration. Semi-structured interviews will then be employed for in-depth case studies. Analysis of what works in each case will permit the identification of principles for effective practice in interworking and its support. The principles will inform the development of materials that will help leaders and managers to develop their own expertise in the facilitation of interworking.
Outputs
- Project report
- Academic article on methodology, process and outcomes
- Development support document including
- Evaluated case studies of effective interworking
- Recommendations for effective practice
- Structured review workshop
- Conference presentations (see below)
- Seminar / workshops
Outcomes
The project will deliver a more developed understanding of interworking and how it may be facilitated, which can then lead to more effective practice in interworking across the sector. This investigative project would not be funded normally by either institution and there are clear benefits for the whole sector and beyond. The project appears to include all the themes suggested in section 2 of the bid guidelines. Interworking is a key issue for leaders and managers. It is a vital aspect of organisational development, since it deals with communities of practice and how they interact or fail to do so. By its nature it deals with diversity and is supportive of inclusion. It has direct application for staff development, it will provide materials that mentors and coaches would find very useful and it makes a contribution to capacity building in areas where universities need urgently to improve their practice. It also has international applications; the UK / Australia link will add a valuable dimension both to data gathering and analysis and to dissemination.
Benefits
There are potentially many beneficiaries:
- Academic and professional leaders and managers will be assisted in achieving more effective collaborative arrangements.
- Staff and organisational developers will be supported in developing collaborative capability at individual, departmental and institutional levels.
Milestones
Month Activity
1-3 Literature review
Identification of suitable cases
Initial website established
4-7 In-depth study, through interviews
8-10 Analysis
Report and materials preparation
11-12 Conference presentations (dependent on conference dates)
Website fully populated
Report and material completed and delivered
Workshops delivered
Dissemination
- Conference presentations / workshops
- Staff Development Conference
- SRHE Conference
- Standing Conference on Academic Practice
- HERDSA Conference