Learning from and About Each Other: Developing Skills for a Connected Interdisciplinary World

Abstract

Employees (and indeed students) now inhabit a world of connectivity and constant contact through social media. But there is still a need to be able to establish meaningful rapport, form strong connections, and maintain contacts with people who are not already part of our existing professional or industrial networks. The development of social confidence and collaborative skills are therefore necessary for full participation and success within the workplace: this has traditionally been viewed as one of the key consequences or impacts of Higher Education. It was not however considered focal to many university learning programmes, given the belief that this would spontaneously occur alongside academic study. And yet, from reviewing the strategic direction of diverse professional regulatory bodies, business leaders, and employers, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the future is an interdisciplinary one. Clearly, the Higher Education (HE) sector needs to prepare graduates for a dynamically changing world where workplace problems are highly complex, intersectional, and even ‘wicked’ by nature: a world where problem solving, prioritization, and active networking are now crucial to career success. Graduates are now expected to work in interconnected ways across the globe, using transferrable skills. The rise of social media must be factored in, not least the dissonance which exists between the need for active engagement with a large group of friends, and the frequent reluctance to connect with unknown colleagues or peers. The ability to collaborate and connect is such a desirable skill that Higher Education Institutions must find ways to ensure that students are afforded opportunities to gain confidence in working together and to then evaluate their competence in this area.