Reach in and reach out : the story of the MSc in pipeline engineering at Newcastle University

This paper presents an unusual case of university-industry interaction whereby a group of small businesses came together to persuade a university to establish an MSc in Pipeline Engineering. We identify that the course contributed to regional development in four ways. Firstly, it provided graduates for local industry. Secondly, it linked local firms with pipeline engineers world wide and raised the region's profile within that network. Thirdly, it strengthened the research base of the university through the recruitment of pipeline engineers from industry and fourthly, it facilitated the possibility of joint research between the university and local firms. We question whether this model is transferable to other industry sectors/universities. We conclude that this outreach activity has been shaped by the 'reach-in' to the university of the local business community and propose a revised model of university interaction with regional industry. Traditionally universities have been seen as 'reaching out' to regional industry and the collaborations have been viewed as being instigated by the university and often research-based. Our revised model proposes an alternative mechanism whereby collaborations can be instigated by industry and through a teaching-route

Regional leadership: the emergence of subsea NE and the subsea technology cluster in north east England

This article examines regional leadership in the north east England

Interdisciplinary research: a review of contextual and process factors

This review paper considers the drivers that explain recent calls for interdisciplinary research, and the barriers that can obstruct such projects. We consider the barriers that potentially obstruct successful interdisciplinary research in two classes: those that have an impact on the establishment (or otherwise) of such projects; and those that affect such projects once they are established. Given the considerable learning and knowledge generative potential of interdisciplinary research, our aims here are twofold. First we aim to provide a review of contextual and process factors that is of immediate utility to others seeking to study (or enact) such research projects and initiatives. Second, we aim to identify theoretical and empirical lines of investigation for future research in this area

Local steps in the global dance: practice in interdisciplinary research

A presentation on practice in interdisciplinary researc

Developing interdisciplinary researchers : caring for those who dare interdisciplinary research

Addressing increasingly complex social and organizational problems often require inter-disciplinary research (IDR) to be fully understood and – potentially – resolved. This need has been demonstrated in IDR approaches to business issues (such as global trade and innovation), and social issues, especially in public management fields (such as health care and environmental programs). Despite the evident need for IDR it is a complex, collaborative mode of research which is particularly demanding for those that seek to engage in it. For this reason this workshop seeks to introduce an example approach to the development of researchers seeking to engage with interdisciplinary approaches, as a prelude to the collaborative development of new ways of addressing this development need

Interdisciplinary research and communities of practice: meta-practices and new form of networks of practice

Paper discussing interdisciplinary research and communities of practice