The politics of border crossing : negotiating the boundaries in multidisciplinary curriculum design

Erik Bohemia, Paul Rodgers, Elizabeth K. Brodhurst, Duncan Hepburn

    Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperConference Paper

    Abstract

    ![CDATA[This paper explores the politics of border crossing using a recent experience in cross-disciplinary course design at the University of Western Sydney (UWS). Literature on curriculum development in Engineering and Industrial Design seldom, if ever, discusses politics. This gives the impression that curriculum development is free from workplace politics and emerges in response to a combination of student learning needs, industry requirements and disciplinary knowledge. This paper however, aims to draw attention to the relationship between politics and multidisciplinary curriculum design. This relationship will be illustrated by tracing the rise and demise of a novel degree that aimed to provide its graduates with skills from two vocational areas i.e. Industrial Design and Mechatronic Engineering. This five year undergraduate degree was first introduced in 1999 at UWS as a double degree comprising of a Bachelor of Industrial Design and a Bachelor of Engineering. It was later restructured to become a single degree named 'Industrial Design Engineering (IDE). We describe the power struggles around the development and co ordinatio/administration of the combined degree. Rather than conceptualising the curriculum content of this degree as coming out of learning theory, industry requirements, or internal program evaluation; the methodologies of curriculum development recommended by instructional designers, the content of this degree was in a large part shaped by political forces. For example, we describe the way disciplinary knowledge and academic identities have shaped the combined degree over its four years of continually morphing existence.]]
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationCrossing Design Boundaries: Proceedings of the 3rd Engineering & Product Design Education International Conference, Edinburgh, UK, 15-16 September, 2005
    PublisherTaylor & Francis
    Number of pages6
    ISBN (Print)0415391180
    Publication statusPublished - 2005
    EventEngineering & Product Design Education International Conference -
    Duration: 1 Jan 2007 → …

    Conference

    ConferenceEngineering & Product Design Education International Conference
    Period1/01/07 → …

    Keywords

    • Western Sydney University
    • cross-disciplinary
    • curriculum planning
    • education
    • industrial design
    • New South Wales
    • Australia
    • Western Sydney (N.S.W.)
    • mechatronics
    • Centre for Western Sydney
    • interdisciplinary approach in education

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