Interdisciplinary learning will shape the future of engineering: Dr Anuj grover, IIIT-Delhi

Engineering education has traditionally been organised around specialised disciplines such as electronics, mechanical engineering and computer science. However, many modern products and systems require knowledge from several fields. In this interview with The Hans India, Dr Anuj Grover, Associate Professor, Electronics and Communications Engineering, and Head, Centre for Intelligent Product Development (CiPD), IIIT-Delhi, (Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology. (IIIT) Delhi, discusses why students need both disciplinary depth and the ability to work across fields.

Why is interdisciplinary learning becoming more important in engineering education?

Engineering disciplines developed as a way of organising increasingly large bodies of knowledge. However, many products and systems today bring several areas of engineering together. A connected device, for example, may require sensing, electronics, embedded software, communication systems, data processing, user-interface design and an understanding of its intended users. Students therefore need a strong foundation in their chosen discipline while also developing enough familiarity with related fields to understand how different components interact. Interdisciplinary learning is not about becoming an expert in every field, but about being able to collaborate effectively and understand where different areas of expertise come together.

What does interdisciplinary learning mean for an engineering student?

It should not mean acquiring superficial knowledge of many subjects. Depth in one discipline remains important. Alongside that foundation, students can develop working knowledge of neighbouring areas and learn how to communicate with specialists from other fields. The ability to identify a problem, understand its different dimensions and bring together appropriate expertise is increasingly relevant to engineering projects. Students should learn not only how to solve a technical problem but also how their solution fits within a larger system.

How does product development demonstrate the need for multiple disciplines?

Consider a relatively simple connected device designed to monitor the level of an overhead water tank. Developing such a product involves several considerations. Sensors and power systems need to work reliably, communication signals must function in the physical environment, and the software must process the information correctly.

There are also questions around the user interface, cost, manufacturing, certification and distribution. This demonstrates that developing even a small product can involve electronics, software, design, business considerations and an understanding of users. No single discipline can address all these aspects independently.

How is technology changing the skills engineers need?

As technology automates some routine tasks, engineers may spend more time on problems that require interpretation, judgement and the integration of different areas of knowledge. This makes it important for students to understand how established solutions from one field might be relevant to challenges in another. Engineering education can support this by encouraging students to explore problems beyond the boundaries of their core subjects and work with peers from other disciplines.

Can interdisciplinary education contribute to innovation?

Innovation often involves applying an existing idea in a different context. When students are exposed to multiple disciplines, they canencounter approaches and methods that may not be part of their primary field. However, interdisciplinary work should be grounded in strong fundamentals.

Students need sufficient technical depth to understand a problem before they can effectively combine ideas from other areas.

What role do product-development programmes play in this approach?

Product development requires students to consider the complete journey from identifying a problem to designing, testing and refining a solution.

At CiPD, this approach involves areas including business and leadership, design, electronics, embedded systems, entrepreneurship, product development and software.

Bringing these elements together can help students understand that engineering solutions also involve questions of usability, cost, implementation and sustainability. It can also encourage students to work collaboratively and appreciate the contributions of different disciplines.

How important are business and entrepreneurship skills for engineers?

Technical knowledge is only one part of developing a product. Engineers who want to work on products or entrepreneurial ventures may also need to understand users, costs, markets, teamwork and decision-making. Introducing students to these areas does not mean turning every engineer into an entrepreneur. Rather, it can help them understand the broader context in which engineering solutions are developed and implemented.

What can institutions do to encourage interdisciplinary learning?

One practical step is to make it easier for students to undertake projects with faculty members and peers from different departments. This does not necessarily require major changes to infrastructure or curricula. Project-based learning, interdisciplinary teams and opportunities to work on real-world problems can expose students to different ways of thinking. The objective should be to retain disciplinary depth while creating opportunities for students to connect their knowledge with other fields.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Anuj Grover