Utrecht University wants to offer students an environment in which they are able to develop their talents to the greatest possible extent, so that, upon graduation, they are able to contribute to resolving the challenges facing society (Strategic Plan 2025, Utrecht University). Such challenges are often complex and defy straightforward solutions. To prepare students for these challenges, we want students to learn beyond the boundaries of their discipline and the boundaries of the university. To this end, Utrecht University has launched several educational innovation programmes to encourage and support this transition: Interdisciplinary Education, which aims to foster the integration of disciplinary insights and perspectives within education, and Community Engaged Learning, which aims to facilitate education in which students, teachers and external partners work together on shared social issues

This session will be an interactive exploration of the institutionalization of intersdisciplinary and community engaged learning (or other transdisciplinary) practices. What are must haves and nice to haves to structurally embed these educational innovations within higher education? During the session we will share lessons learned from the Interdisciplinary Education programme and Community Engaged Learning programme at Utrecht University. Topics we will discuss are:

• Mission and vision

• Faculty support

• Student support

• Institutional support

Session Objectives:

1. To share the institutionalization process of interdisciplinary education and community-engaged learning programs at Utrecht University.

2. To identify key challenges and successes encountered during the implementation of these initiatives.

3. To facilitate reflective discussions on lessons learned and best practices for promoting inter- and transdisciplinarity within higher education institutions.

Session Structure:

Introduction (10 minutes)

• Provide an overview of the institutional context of Utrecht University and the significance of interdisciplinary education and community engagement initiatives within this context.

Panel Presentation (25 minutes)

• Invited speakers, involved in the interdisciplinary and community engaged learning programme, share their experiences and insights on the institutionalization journey of these educational innovations.

• Speakers discuss key milestones, challenges, successes, and transformative moments encountered during the implementation phase. Speakers can give recommendations for fostering inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration within higher education settings.

Interactive Discussion (20 minutes)

• Facilitate a guided discussion among participants to reflect on the panel presentations and share their own experiences, challenges, and insights related to interdisciplinary education and community engagement. Dependent on group size this can be done plenary or in break-out groups.

Our aim is to explore questions such as:

• What are the common challenges faced by your institutions when implementing interdisciplinary education and community engagement initiatives?

• How can institutional structures and policies be adapted to better support these initiatives?

• What strategies have proven effective in fostering collaboration between academic disciplines and community partners?

5. Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks (5 minutes)

• Summarize key takeaways from the session.

• Provide resources for further reading and support on interdisciplinary education and community engagement.