Explain your current position, disciplinary background(s), and your role in INTED.
I am an honours student studying psychology and have been working as a student leader at INTED for the past two years. I began my academic journey in philosophy but later moved on to psychology. I recently completed an honours bachelor’s degree in cognitive psychology, where I developed interdisciplinary competence through exploring questions related to AI, while maintaining a strong disciplinary grounding within psychology. At INTED, I’ve served as the student leader representing the social sciences. My role has been diverse and multifaceted, and has involved bridging the student perspective with the administrative perspective of the centre. I’ve been involved in the centre’s leadership and planning, with particular responsibility for student-focused activities such as the interdisciplinary student workshops and summer projects.
Do you have experience with interdisciplinary projects?
Before joining INTED, my only interdisciplinary experience came from the honours program. When I first started, I had little theoretical understanding of interdisciplinarity and interdisciplinary competence. However, I had already experienced the different aspects of interdisciplinary cooperation in practice. I knew the struggles and frustrations that come with interdisciplinary challenges, as well as the rewards and insights it can bring. These experiences sparked my interest and made me want to explore interdisciplinarity further.
What led you to engaging in the INTED center?
I was invited to join some members of the INTED team at a conference on interdisciplinarity in the Netherlands in 2023, as a few student spots had become available. Attending that conference was an incredible experience. I enjoyed learning about the theoretical frameworks behind interdisciplinarity as I was also participating in an interdisciplinary program myself. Soon after the conference, I was invited to join INTED’s leadership group as a student leader and I quickly knew I wanted to stay involved for as long as possible.
What inspires/drives your interest in interdisciplinarity?
I’ve always had a wide range of interests, and many different theoretical fields have fascinated me. When choosing a degree, my biggest challenge was having to pick just one field of study. Interdisciplinarity allows me to specialise within a discipline while keeping an open mind toward other perspectives and learning from people with very different areas of expertise. I appreciate how interdisciplinary work fosters critical thinking and openness. Taking an interdisciplinary approach allows you to step back and situate your own discipline within a broader context, becoming aware of both its contributions and its limitations.
In your view, why is INTED important for UiO?
In my opinion, INTED is essential for increasing awareness and understanding of interdisciplinarity among both students and faculty at UiO. The work of INTED plays a crucial role in overcoming administrative and structural barriers within the university that hinder interdisciplinary education and collaboration. Furthermore, INTED’s work helps push UiO toward embracing more interdisciplinary teaching practices that support students in acquiring the soft and hard skills needed to tackle increasingly complex global challenges.
What do you think/hope that INTED can provide for UiO?
I hope INTED can offer valuable learning opportunities for both students and faculty, helping them develop the skills needed to educate and guide future generations of academics and professionals. This includes fostering openness, curiosity, and the ability to approach different perspectives with respect and interest.
What does it mean for you to be part of an excellence center for interdisciplinary education?
Working with INTED has been increasingly valuable to me. It has been fulfilling and intellectually stimulating, and provided me with countless opportunities to explore, grow, and learn. It has been a tremendous opportunity to work closely with highly competent and resourceful people. I’ve gained so many incredible learning experiences and have taken part in activities I never imagined I’d do at this stage of my education. INTED has given me the space to grow and become more confident in my abilities by trusting me with responsibility and encouraging a learn-by-doing approach. It has also been deeply inspiring to work with people who are genuinely engaged in their work and passionate about crossing disciplinary boundaries..
With interdisciplinarity on the rise, what is the future of higher education?
I believe the future of higher education lies in disciplinary-grounded interdisciplinarity. Students must be equipped to face the challenges of the future by developing the skills and knowledge necessary to solve complex problems. We need interdisciplinary competence; critical thinking, respectful and curious collaboration across fields, openness, and a willingness to explore and learn together. At the same time, we also need disciplinary specialisation to continue advancing knowledge and innovation. Therefore, the future lies in educating specialised scholars who also possess the skills to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams to solve the world’s most pressing problems.