Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study examines the key cumulative and current modulating factors affecting undergraduate students' level of appreciation of multidisciplinary courses (MDCs). The present research used a combined quantitative survey and qualitative interview research design and recruited 300 undergraduate students from three universities in India. The understanding level of the participants based on the responses shows that a greater percentage of the participants who came across MDCs felt that students with science backgrounds seemed to learn more about such courses than the arts and commerce students. The study also found that the level of perceived relevance of MDCs was moderate, and many students doubted whether these courses were relevant in their chosen fields. Several challenges to MDC participation were established in the study, including a lack of clear occupational direction, time, and institutional support. The study demonstrates that MDCs can improve students' critical thinking, problem-solving, and other interdisciplinary talents, which are highly in demand in the contemporary workplace. The study underscores the importance of awareness creation, strengthening of institutional support, and the elimination of the hurdles towards increasing student engagement in MDCs. This study contributes to the burgeoning discussion of how and why interdisciplinary education has the potential to meet students' objectives and market needs and offers insights for institutions that seek to design and deliver courses that will meet these needs.
Author: Asmita Dani
Institution: Symbiosis International University
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4406809717