Interdisciplinary Teamwork as a Basis for Innovation Competences Development

Experts such as engineers in contemporary, global context often work in teams with members from various areas of expertise and professional backgrounds in order to develop new innovative products and services. That is why new training methods with an interdisciplinary approach are increasingly needed and developed. Our paper presents how we developed an interdisciplinary, work-oriented learning project over the years 2014-2017 and what results we got. We aim to provide pedagogical insights on how to support the development of innovation competences. The learning project was originally implemented in the degree programs of engineering and international business at Vamk in Finland. In addition, we compare these results with current experiences received during years 2018-2020, when a similar cross-disciplinary, work-oriented learning project has been implemented at Seamk in Finland. An interdisciplinary approach means that people work together as a team, presenting their own field of expertise and integrating each other's professional perspectives. Interdisciplinary teams develop individual and collective decision-making and help team members to understand and appreciate other disciplines. Findings of these qualitative learning experiments will be presented. Conclusions as to integrate diversity management at the university level and suggestions for the development of the engineering curriculum will be provided. Practical tips for teachers organizing interdisciplinary learning projects will be given.