Title: Introducing a transdisciplinary curriculum to foster student citizenship: a challenge beyond curricula reform

Authors: Hans Dieleman; Margarita Juarez-Najera

Addresses: Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, San Lorenzo 290, Col. del Valle, 03100, D.F., México ' Departamento de Energía, CBI – Azcapotzalco, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Av. San Pablo 180, 02200, Edif. O, PB, Cubículo 9, D.F., México

Abstract: The article discusses the implementation of new curricula in the Engineering School of the Autonomous Metropolitan University of Mexico City, Campus Azcapotzalco. The curricula aim at fostering student citizenship, and at training transdisciplinary practices. First, the concepts of citizenship and transdisciplinarity are introduced and discussed, with an emphasis on Nicolescu's concept of transdisciplinarity that emphasises the integration of formal, experiential and direct knowing. The article makes a plea for such integration in curricula so they become like rich ecologies incorporating various ways of knowing. Then, the implementation process is analysed, addressing resistance encountered and changes made, up to the final curricula acceptance. The article concludes that designing transdisciplinary curricula implies the introduction of a new paradigm that: 1) needs to be broadly discussed; 2) involves training of the academic staff; 3) asks seeing curricula in a real systemic way placing each course within the context of the broader whole.

Keywords: student citizenship; transdisciplinarity; Nicolescu; higher education; academic curricula development; Mexico; engineering education; basic sciences; transdisciplinary curricula; sustainability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHES.2015.073463

International Journal of Higher Education and Sustainability, 2015 Vol.1 No.1, pp.3 - 18

Received: 11 Dec 2014
Accepted: 20 May 2015

Published online: 09 Dec 2015 *

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