Today, multidisciplinary cooperation (MC) is an important objective of higher
vocational education. The aim of this ongoing study was to explore how, and to
what extent, fourth year bachelor students at two research centers (Built
Environment and Energy, Hanze University of Applied Sciences) develop MC.
Data for 71 students were collected with a semi-structured questionnaire, followed by focus group discussions in 14 groups. Results indicate that students
accomplished MC to varying degrees, depending on differences in disciplinary
program backgrounds, student characteristics, the research center, the thematic
group they belonged to, and the quality of the ‘graduation research assignment’.
For example, students experienced pressure from their training college to conduct their research autonomously, and this affected the degree to which the goal of MC was reached during the final assignment before graduation. The results of this study were used to improve the professional learning environment in which training colleges and research centers cooperate.
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