Inter- and transdisciplinary university: A systems approach to education and innovation

In response to various pressures for change arising from the present situation, the university will have to adopt a new purpose which may be recognized as a means of increasing the capability of society for continuous self-renewal. With this new purpose in mind, the structure of the university will be determined by the concept of an integral education/innovation system for which four principal levels are considered: empirical, pragmatic, normative and purposive levels. From multi-, pluri-, and crossdisciplinary approaches, all pertaining to one systems level only, the university is expected to develop increasingly interdisciplinary approaches, linking two systems levels and coordinating the activities at the lower level from the higher level through common axiomatics. Ultimately, the entire education/innovation system may become coordinated as a multilevel multigoal hierarchical system through a transdisciplinary approach, implying generalized axiomatics and mutual enhancement of disciplinary epistemology. Current university approaches to develop interdisciplinary links between the pragmatic and normative systems levels are discussed. Finally, a transdisciplinary structure for the university is briefly outlined; its main elements are three types of organizational units-systems design laboratories, function-oriented departments, and discipline-oriented departments-which focus on the interdisciplinary coordination between the three pairs of levels in the education/innovation system, i.e., on method and organization rather than on accumulated knowledge. An important role for policy sciences is seen in the linkage between the top pair of systems levels.

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Résumé Pour répondre aux sollicitations de son environnement actuel, l'Université devra se donner de nouveaux objectifs en partant du principe qu'il lui faut procurer à la société les moyens d'un renouvellement continu. On peut déduire la structure de l'Université, qui est ainsi exigée, de l'idée d'une liaison intime entre éducation et innovation: aux quatre niveaux à considérer, niveau empirique, niveau pragmatique, niveau des normes et niveau des stratégies. On attend de l'Université que, dépassant les activités multi- ou pluridisciplinaires qui ne se situent qu'à un niveau du système, elle réussisse à élaborer une méthodologie interdisciplinaire lui permettant de relier les différents niveaux et de coordonner d'un bout à l'autre du système les activités conformément à une logique unifiée. En somme, le système d'éducation et d'innovation considéré dans son ensemble pourrait tendre vers le modèle d'un système intégrant hiérarchiquement des niveaux et des objectifs multiples, grâce à une méthodologie transdisciplinaire impliquant le développement d'une logique généralisée et des échanges réciproques entre l'épistémologie des différentes disciplines. L'article soumet à la discussion les méthodes dont usent aujourd'hui les universités pour établir des liens d'interdisciplinarité entre le niveau pragmatique et le niveau des normes. En conclusion, est présentée une brève esquisse de ce que pourrait être la structure transdisciplinaire de l'Université: trois types d'unités s'y trouvent distingués dans l'organisation, les laboratoires d'élaboration des projets, les départements tournés vers la satisfaction d'une fonction et les départements tournés vers le travail dans une discipline; l'accent y est mis sur la coordination interdisciplinaire dans les trois mises en relation unissant deux à deux chacun des quatre niveaux du système d'éducation et d'innovation, autrement dit, sur la méthode et l'organisation, plus que sur l'accumulation de la connaissance. On fait voir le rôle important qui est réservé aux sciences de la décision dans la mise en relation des deux niveaux supérieurs du système.

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While developing some of the concepts reported in this paper, Dr. Jantsch held a visiting appointment as Research Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This article is reprinted fromPolicy Sciences (American Elsevier Publishing Company, Inc.) 1 (1970) 403–428.     

The Buddhist approach to education: an alternative approach for sustainable education

This article is based on research undertaken as part of a study of sustainable school design in Thailand. Since school design solutions are inevitably affected by educational theory and practice, in the search for appropriate building solutions, it has been necessary to review Thai educational theories and practices that relate to the sustainability approach. Recently, there have been several attempts at the international level to respond to sustainability concepts and practices in both educational and architectural fields. These have included changes to the physical building through the introduction of techniques like passive solar cooling, and curriculum changes such as the use of native plants in the school grounds for science teaching. In Thailand, sustainable practices in both fields appear to be in their infancy. This article aims to explore one current Thai educational practice that presents the possibility of responding to sustainability concepts via culturally sensitive education. The practice is based on the three Buddhist principles of learning: sila sikkha (moral conduct); samadhi sikka (mind training); and panna sikkha (wisdom development). In this holistic approach, the principles are practised simultaneously and can be applied to many dimensions, including personal, family, school and communal levels, to cultivate responsive sustainable living practices for the learners. Because the majority of Thai people are Buddhists, this approach may be an alternative way of developing sustainable education in Thailand. It also presents a way to apply local knowledge to promote sustainable ways of living in particular contexts. This may be the first step in the development of sustainable school design in Thailand and could become an integrated part of the country's sustainable systems.     

The science-technology-society movement in science education: A critique of the reform process

Changes in society and in science and technology have forced a rethinking of what is “basic” in science education. A perceived disjuncture between school science and the realities of a scientifically and technologically oriented society has resulted in proposals for new directions in science teaching. It appears that science education is about to undergo another paradigm shift. One particularly visible movement, the “Science-Technology-Society” (STS) movement, exemplifies how such directional shifts tend to occur within the field of science education. This article critically examines the program and professional development process that has characterized past and current science curriculum reform effort in an attempt to illustrate fundamental educational reform problems. The need for new directions in science education is uncontested here. The issue is the problematic nature of the reform process itself. The article contends that new methods of reform must be researched— methods that directly involve practitioners in critical reflection, participatory research, and science curriculum development.     

Social benefits and the subsidization of higher education: A critique

This paper examines the policy relevance of assertions that hypothetical social benefits generated by higher education satisfy normal public investment criteria. A subsidization model of higher education is introduced to emphasize the importance of either social benefits or political collusion as justifications for public support of higher education. The most common arguments in support of the social benefits approach are critiqued. The paper concludes by examining the question of whether even the existence of social benefits is a sufficient condition for subsidization and the need for examination of alternative funding systems is highlighted.     

A critique of neo-progressive trends in Canadian education

The author analyses the principal elements of what he terms the neo-progressive idea. He suggests that the philosophy has precarious bases, and goes on to draw certain conclusions from neo-progressive thought that are susceptible to empirical investigation. In the second part of the paper, the author draws on research he has conducted in New Brunswick to determine the extent to which the hypotheses derived from neo-progressive theory are applicable to the schools surveyed. The author concludes that there is a need for greater refinement of neo-progressive thought and practice. Careful evaluation of neo-progressive educational methods should be applied before educators accept them as a panacea for universal application.

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Résumé L'auteur analyse les éléments principaux de ce qu'il désigne par l'idée néo-progressive. A son avis les fondements de la théorie sont incertains; il finit par tirer certaines conclusions de la pensée néo-progressive qui peuvent être mises à l'épreuve de l'investigation empirique. Dans la deuxième partie de son étude, l'auteur utilise les recherches qu'il a faites au Nouveau Brunswick afin de déterminer dans quelle mesure les hypothèses découlant de la théorie néo-progressive sont applicables aux écoles étudiées. L'auteur conclut qu'il faut raffiner davantage la pensée néo-progressive et son application. Il faudrait faire une évaluation approfondie de la valeur des méthodes d'enseignement néo-progressives avant que les enseignants ne les acceptent comme une panacée applicable universellement.

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Editor's Note: The next issue ofInterchange will contain comments on Dr. Holmes' article by Lloyd Dennis and David Nolle and replies by Dr. Holmes.     

A praxis approach to financial literacy education

Financial literacy education (FLE) typically focuses on teaching skills and capabilities that promote individual wealth accumulation—for example, the importance of working, budgeting and saving. In this article, we argue the need to move from an individual wealth accumulation focus in FLE to a praxis approach to FLE. We outline the shortcomings of the conventional approach to FLE and develop a conceptual framework for a praxis approach to FLE. We view praxis as the moral, ethical and caring aspect of teaching. Using the conceptual framework, we argue that a praxis approach to FLE includes full attention to: how financial decision-making affects others and self; acknowledging that some life decisions are not financially rewarding; understanding that improving financial mathematics skills and capabilities may not equate to an increase in income; how SES affects an individual’s ability to save and maintain long-term saving; and the ways in which gender, culture, values, psychological state, socioeconomic class and ethics shape identity and their impact on financial decision-making.