Leiden Learning & Innovation Centre
Inter- & Transdisciplinary Education (ITE)
Inter- & Transdisciplinary Education (ITE) integrates knowledge across disciplines and fosters collaboration with societal partners to address complex real-world challenges.
Interdisciplinary education connects ideas, (applied) methods, and (theoretical) perspectives from different academic disciplines to deepen understanding of complex issues.
Transdisciplinary education takes this a step further by bringing academic and societal perspectives together, allowing students, educators, and societal partners to co-create knowledge and explore challenges from multiple viewpoints.
Both approaches have a particular relevance for those keen to create learning experiences which connect knowledge, practice, and society, while also exploring new possibilities for education and innovation. These can include:
- Teachers who redesign courses and experiment with new teaching approaches.
- Programme teams developing curricula.
- Educational advisors supporting innovation.
- Researchers exploring new forms of knowledge creation.
- Students who want to engage with complex challenges from multiple perspectives.
Significantly, both Inter- & Transdisciplinary Education create opportunities to collaborate with partners beyond Leiden University. Through these collaborations, partners contribute their expertise to education, while students and teachers gain opportunities to work on meaningful challenges in authentic contexts.
Our work at LLInC
At LLInC, we support the development of ITE by helping teachers, programme teams, and educational innovators design learning experiences which cross disciplinary and societal boundaries. Examples of our work in this area are:
The Leiden University Guide to Transdisciplinary Education
The Leiden University Guide to Transdisciplinary Education is a practical resource developed by LLInC and the Honours Academy to support teachers in designing and (re)developing transdisciplinary courses. It contains examples, tools, and guidance based on practices within Leiden University and beyond.
The Tackling Inequalities Honours course
Tackling Inequalities is an impact-based transdisciplinary course where master’s students explore inequality through multiple perspectives and work with societal partners to engage with complex real-world societal challenges.
The "Mixed Classroom: Futures Thinking" Honours course
This Honours course took place in a mixed classroom setting, bringing together master’s students and professionals to explore future challenges, apply Futures Thinking approaches, and work collaboratively on real-world cases. The course is offered in collaboration with LLInC and the Honours Academy.
Workshops, consultations, and knowledge exchange activities
These activities support teachers and educational teams who want to redesign courses, develop innovative teaching approaches, or explore collaborations across disciplines and with societal partners.
Work across Leiden University
Across our institution, many colleagues are already engaging with ITE approaches in education, research, and societal collaboration. Examples include:
Inter- & Transdisciplinary Education (ITE) Special Interest Group (SIG)
The Inter- & Transdisciplinary Education SIG brings together colleagues from across Leiden University, including LLInC, LURIS, ICLON, FGGA, and FSW, to exchange experiences, identify opportunities, and strengthen ITE practices across the university.
Honours Academy courses and programmes
Honours Academy courses and programmes provide a space for students and teachers from different disciplines to collaborate, experiment with innovative educational approaches, and connect learning with societal challenges.
Leren met de Stad
A partnership between the Municipality of Leiden, Leiden University and University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Leren met de Stad aims to use knowledge and expertise from higher education to solve social issues in Leiden by bringing students, researchers, and lecturers in contact with local organisations.
Thesis Hub The Hague Southwest
The Thesis Hub The Hague Southwest is an LDE (Leiden-Delft-Erasmus) educational programme that actively connects education and research with practice and policy. It does so by linking student research to concrete challenges in The Hague Southwest and collaborating with stakeholders including the Municipality of The Hague, housing corporations, local neighbourhood professionals, and residents.
Interdisciplinary initiatives by Young Academy Leiden (YAL)
These initiatives include the Seasons of Interdisciplinarity, workshops, and activities that create connections between researchers across disciplines and support collaboration around complex themes.
University-wide research and education initiatives addressing complex societal challenges
These include projects on interdisciplinary learning around “wicked problems” as well as initiatives within themes such as Healthy Society, where researchers collaborate across disciplines and with societal partners.
Una Europa interdisciplinary opportunities
Una Europa provides Leiden University students and researchers with opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary training, workshops, and collaborative programmes across European universities.
Contact us!
If you would like to hear more about and get involved with Inter- & Transdisciplinary Education at LLInC, please contact Aayushi Shah and Nilou Daneshkhah.
