A reflection on the role, potential and challenges of transdisciplinarity at the University of Fort Hare

Common Problems! and Common Solutions? — Teaching at the Intersection Between Public Health and Criminology: A Public Health Perspective

“…Regarding the areas of interconnection suggested above, this would mean identifying risk and protective factors within the social determinants of health and criminal behavior using epidemiological methods, as well as applying the results to aid strategies aimed at crime prevention based on the public health approach. Some argue that transdisciplinarity is the most appropriate approach for addressing global challenges, especially society's so-called "wicked problems" and the global increase in crime [78]. It is important to discuss with students the ongoing debate in many countries about the need for collaboration between criminal justice and public health professionals in crime prevention and intervention.…”

“…It is suggested that interdisciplinarity can be complex, owing to difficulties arising from the need for communication across the different fields and their perspectives and from the potential incompatibility of theories and methods. It is also difficult because of limited funding and financial resources [78][79]. In a conceptual literature review on transdisciplinary collaboration, McGregor identified four main challenges: (a) managing group processes; (b) reflexivity; (c) common learning processes; and (d) facilitating integration and synthesis.…”

Enabling transdisciplinary research collaboration for planetary health: Insights from practice at the environment‐health‐development nexus

“…Organisational resources in various forms helped enable collaboration by creating operational environments, such as dedicated project management and administrative support to alleviate the burden of logistical coordination from core researchers (Bark et al, 2016; Black et al, 2019; Brown et al, 2015; Cundill et al, 2018; Datta, 2018; de‐Graft Aikins et al, 2012; Heaton et al, 2016; OECD, 2020; Roux et al, 2019). In‐kind support from partner institutions, including event spaces and publicity, and robust communication and data storage capabilities, were practical enablers of implementation (Bark et al, 2016; de‐Graft Aikins et al, 2012; Ward et al, 2019). Availability of seed funding from partner institutions helped maintain collaboration in absence of other funding (Brown et al, 2015; de‐Graft Aikins et al, 2012; Ely et al, 2020).…”

Research−implementation organisations and their role for sustainable development

“…A few HEIs have gone beyond incorporating sustainable development concepts into their existing framework and have adapted their missions and organisational structures around strengthening engagement with society and addressing societal challenges. They have done so by establishing dedicated institutes, centres of excellence, think tanks or networks for inter‐ and transdisciplinary research (Cuesta‐Claros et al, 2022; OECD, 2020a; Ward et al, 2019). Yet, institutions that specialise in transdisciplinary research and related approaches, often have a competitive disadvantage vis‐à‐vis traditional research institutions when it comes to research funding (OECD, 2020a).…”