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TRANS-DISCIPLINARITY AND GROWTH: Nature and Characteristics of Trans-disciplinary Training Programs on the Human-Environment Interphase

Author

Listed:
  • Elias Carayannis

    (George Washington University)

  • Luc Hens

    (Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO))

  • Polyxeni Nicolopoulou-Stamati

    (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)

Abstract

Smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth is the sine qua non for developed democracies today. At the heart of the growth engines of technology innovation and entrepreneurship fed by the fuel of creativity and invention lies trans-disciplinarity (TD) and beyond-the-box thinking (TB2) not just outside-the-box thinking. TD and TB2 flourish at the nexus of theories, policies, politics, and practices when the encompassing socio-political, socio-technical, and socio-economic ecosystem is endowed with a quadruple and quintuple innovation helix structure (Q2IH) organically and flexibly linking government, university, industry, and civil society within an overarching environmental framework. The increasing demand for trans-disciplinary training programs on the human system-environment interphase dovetail in considerations, including the need for addressing complex problems, in a way which transcends the collection of information from a multitude of disciplines and moving towards integrated, more holistic ways of understanding. This paper analyzes core characteristics of university programs adopting this trans-disciplinary approach. They differ from technical expertise programs in their integrated, innovative, and solution-targeted character in which contributions by and dialogues with stakeholders are essential. As trans-disciplinary approaches reach maturity, it becomes increasingly indicated organizing them as 4-year master degrees, entailing a 2-year multidisciplinary training during the bachelor years, completed with a 2-year training targeted towards integration of data and trans-disciplinary practice. In this latter context, attention for uncertainty, tacit knowledge, inspiring case studies, integrated training methods, and thesis-related practice surface more and more as important elements of the program content. In spite of their intellectual attraction and logical necessity, trans-disciplinary approaches also face weaknesses including their non-mainstream scientific character, the lack of methods allowing the integration of non-homogeneous data, the scientifically premature character of tacit knowledge, and the value-loaded aspect of the issues at stake. The extent to which trans-disciplinary programs will succeed overcoming these limitations will to a large extent determine their future.

Suggested Citation

  • Elias Carayannis & Luc Hens & Polyxeni Nicolopoulou-Stamati, 2017. "TRANS-DISCIPLINARITY AND GROWTH: Nature and Characteristics of Trans-disciplinary Training Programs on the Human-Environment Interphase," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 8(1), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jknowl:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s13132-015-0294-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s13132-015-0294-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. Elias Carayannis & Caroline Sipp, 2010. "Why, When, and How are Real Options used in Strategic Technology Venturing?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 1(2), pages 70-85, June.
    9. Elias G. Carayannis & David F.J. Campbell, 2010. "Triple Helix, Quadruple Helix and Quintuple Helix and How Do Knowledge, Innovation and the Environment Relate To Each Other? : A Proposed Framework for a Trans-disciplinary Analysis of Sustainable Dev," International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development (IJSESD), IGI Global, vol. 1(1), pages 41-69, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elias G. Carayannis & David F. J. Campbell & Evangelos Grigoroudis, 2022. "Helix Trilogy: the Triple, Quadruple, and Quintuple Innovation Helices from a Theory, Policy, and Practice Set of Perspectives," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 2272-2301, September.
    2. Dina A. M. Miragaia & João J. M. Ferreira & Cédric T. Vieira, 2024. "Efficiency of Non-profit Organisations: a DEA Analysis in Support of Strategic Decision-Making," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 3239-3265, March.
    3. Elias G. Carayannis & Klitos Christodoulou & Panayiotis Christodoulou & Savvas A. Chatzichristofis & Zinon Zinonos, 2022. "Known Unknowns in an Era of Technological and Viral Disruptions—Implications for Theory, Policy, and Practice," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(1), pages 587-610, March.
    4. Elias G. Carayannis & David F. J. Campbell, 2021. "Democracy of Climate and Climate for Democracy: the Evolution of Quadruple and Quintuple Helix Innovation Systems," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(4), pages 2050-2082, December.
    5. Sean Kruger & Adriana Aletta Steyn, 2020. "Enhancing technology transfer through entrepreneurial development: practices from innovation spaces," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(6), pages 1655-1689, December.

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