Addressing challenges of teamworking and communication skills in international transdisciplinary projects contexts

Abstract

<p>Transdisciplinary engineering involves integrating knowledge, methods, and tools from multiple disciplines to address complex engineering challenges. This approach requires transferable skills being applied across different contexts and fields. It encourages collaboration among diverse experts, including engineers, scientists, social scientists, and stakeholders from communities or industry. Given the increasing need for engineers working in transdisciplinary intercultural teams, nurturing engineering students with strong teamwork and communication skills becomes essential. This paper presents results of a comparative study using qualitative methods to examine pedagogical designs and support mechanisms aimed at enhancing these skills among engineering students. The study is conducted from the perspectives of engineering educators at two institutions: University College London (UCL) and The University of Hong Kong (HKU). Both have diverse undergraduate student populations; however, a higher proportion of students come from a Confucian cultural background in Hong Kong compared to the UK. By comparing experiences of engineering educators in these distinct settings, we aim to identify strategies for optimizing resources and integrating support to develop transferable skills by first identifying contributing factors affecting the upskilling of students. Results indicate that factors such as cultural differences in Western v Eastern education systems and UK economic drivers that adversely impact language and communication levels at admission are where difficulties in upskilling are rooted. This study helps inform the future work where we seek methods to facilitate the transition and integration of Chinese engineering students in the UK, as well as Western students in Hong Kong, enabling success in transdisciplinary learning environments.<br></p>