Interdisciplinarity, generic competencies, and traits in engineering practice from the perspective of early-career engineers

In engineering education, initiatives to establish interdisciplinary learning outcomes increase; however, fewer studies focus on how interdisciplinarity unfolds in engineering practice. This study explores interdisciplinarity in the work of early-career engineers and discusses its potential implications for engineering education, with the research question: How do early-career engineers understand interdisciplinarity, and which competencies do they emphasise in an interdisciplinary work context?

Interdisciplinary competencies are a multifaceted concept encompassing the combination of disciplines and expertise, specific and generic competencies, and personal traits. Eight early-career engineers from an international company were interviewed. Their understanding of interdisciplinarity was linked to differences in people, expertise, professional fields, and languages. Different types of generic competencies play a role, with communication and decision-making being particularly important in interdisciplinary collaboration. However, these competencies are often mentioned in combination with personal traits, which this study identifies under three main categories: self- and social awareness, integrity, and action-oriented traits.