Transdisciplinary Teaching

To break down traditional academic silos, foster collaboration across disciplines, and equip students with the ability to address complex real-world challenges, transdisciplinary teaching guidelines have been developed. These guidelines, developed by the Transdisciplinary Task Team, put these 10 guidelines in place with the objective to:

Integrate multiple disciplines

Enhance critical thinking and teamwork

Overcome institutional barriers

Embed transdisciplinary best practices

The University of Pretoria is committed to embedding these guidelines into existing and new programmes. Faculty training, administrative support, and curriculum reforms will drive this transformation.

The 10 transdisciplinary teaching objectives

1. Leadership and contextualisation:

Facilitate problem identification and solution development across disciplines.

2. Communication and planning:

Establish structured dialogue and coordination among stakeholders.

3. Balancing theory and practice:

Blend conceptual knowledge with hands-on applications in the curriculum.

4. Collaboration and engagement:

Encourage interdisciplinary cooperation and shared learning experiences.

5. Educational foundation in transdisciplinary teaching:

Provide training on transdisciplinary teaching concepts and methodologies for faculty and students.

6. Adaptability and continuous learning:

Develop flexibility in responding to uncertainties in transdisciplinary work.

7. Networking and professional growth:

Foster partnerships and professional development opportunities.

8. Knowledge integration:

Strengthen connections between different academic fields to enrich student learning.

9. Diversity and cultural enrichment:

Promote inclusive and culturally diverse perspectives in education.

10. Breaking down disciplinary silos:

Encourage holistic learning and interdisciplinary curriculum development.

An illustrative example: Vroedvrou

The concept and practice of Vroedvrou can significantly enrich interdisciplinary teaching and learning by serving as a nexus for engagement across health sciences, anthropology, gender studies, heritage, law, environmental science, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems, among other fields. It offers students and scholars a vital opportunity to explore culturally embedded birthing practices, interrogate the hegemony of biomedical paradigms, and engage meaningfully with decolonial epistemologies.

As a pedagogical resource, Vroedvrou functions as a compelling case study that supports the development of ethical, community-based research methodologies. It also invites innovative, co-created curriculum design with local communities, fostering respectful, socially responsive, and collaborative education.