How to Address Global Challenges Through Multidisciplinary Research

Develop your research skills with a multidisciplinary approach

Due to their complexity, global challenges call into question the effectiveness of single-discipline research methods. Instead, a collaboration between disciplines, communities, practitioners, and researchers could help better achieve sustainable solutions.

On this four-week course, you’ll explore the value of using multidisciplinary research to address global challenges. You’ll discover practical approaches as you unpack the benefits and challenges of multidisciplinary research.

Exploring case studies from the UK GCRF BRECcIA project, and focussing on food and water security in sub-Saharan Africa, you’ll gain insights of co-opting ideas and methods from various disciplines.

Turn research methods into action to address global challenges

Throughout the course, you’ll learn how to put your knowledge into practice to help address pressing global issues.

You’ll discover researcher tips to use in implementing transformative multidisciplinary research and learn to integrate multidisciplinary components into your work.

Explore ethical principles in research and stakeholder engagement

To ensure a collaborative approach in your multidisciplinary research, you’ll explore the ethical principles of working with local communities and other stakeholders.

You’ll learn how to promote stakeholder engagement as you discover techniques for applying ethical research principles in multidisciplinary and multicultural research projects.

Learn from the experts at the University of Southampton

Guided by the University of Southampton and collaborating institutions in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, you’ll finish the course with a sound understanding of multidisciplinary research initiatives. You’ll also have the skills to contribute to sustainable, multi-level policy for addressing global challenges.

This course is designed for anyone interested or engaged in multidisciplinary work and working with local communities on sustainability issues.

It will be most useful for students at a graduate level or researchers looking to upskill.

• Introduction to Multi-disciplinary Research
• Welcome to the course
• Working Together Across Disciplines
• Valuing other disciplines
• Multi-disciplinary experiences
• Interacting with other disciplines
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Incorporating perspectives
• Planning for Stakeholder Engagement
• Translating Research to Practice
• Understanding local context
• Creatively sharing research
• Course Wrap-up