Transdisciplinarity, innovation and entrepreneurship 

The TIE specialist leads have developed a report to support the taumata (CF transformation principles) and the subset of TIE emerging recommendations in the CF consultation paper.  This report is not finalised and represents a current state of ideas to lay the groundwork for emphasising Transdisciplinarity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Waipapa ‎Taumata ‎Rau | University of Auckland curriculum.  These ideas will continue to be developed ahead of formal consultation on them July/Aug 2022. 

Taumata Teitei, the Waipapa ‎Taumata ‎Rau | University of Auckland’s strategic plan, includes direct references to transdisciplinarity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in its key priorities for Education and Research. With respect to Education and the Student Experience, Taumata Teitei established a clear priority to provide:

• “Education that is research-informed, transdisciplinary, relevant and with impact for the world”

and which create students that are:

• “adept at broad and deep collaboration in transdisciplinary and cross-functional contexts, in and beyond the University, with an enduring commitment to impact and sustainability.”

Taumata Teitei clearly established the importance of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in its Research and Innovation Priority 2, which asserts the vision that the Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland becomes "a global powerhouse of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship” and will “instil an entrepreneurial mindset in our graduates”.

Through extensive research, internal discussion and external consultation, transdisciplinarity, innovation, and entrepreneurship have been defined in the following manner:

• Transdisciplinarity iteratively interweaves knowledge systems, skills, methodologies, values, and fields of expertise within inclusive and innovative collaborations, across academic disciplines and outside academia, to develop transformative outcomes that respond to societal challenges. In the Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, kaupapa Māori, tikanga, Māori and Pacific knowledge systems, values and perspectives, inform and shape transdisciplinary activity.
• Innovation is the creation of knowledge and resources, or the new combination of existing knowledge and resources, to enable change.
• Entrepreneurship is the capacity to engage with opportunities and ideas in order to create value with and for others. The attribution and creation of value is complex and diverse, such that the value created could exist in a number of realms, including social, cultural, economic or ecological.

The acronym TD in this webpage refers to ‘transdisciplinarity’

The acronym TIE refers to Transdisciplinarity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The content of this webpage and the accompanying report, reflects the efforts and contributions of numerous individuals and groups over the last year including:

The Transdisciplinary, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (TIE) Working Group (2021)

Nicholas Rowe (Lead): Members: Kristiann Allen (Koi Tu), Kelly Burrowes (ABI), Angus Campbell (CAI), Paul Corballis (Science), Lina El Jahel (B&E), Jamie Gillen (Arts), Susan Kemp (EDSW), Jaime King (Law), Jan Lindsay (Science), Marie McEntee (Science), Sue McGlashan (FMHS), Rod McNaughton (CIE, B&E), Peter Rachor (B&E), Peter Shand (CAI), Karl Stol (Eng.), Yvonne Underhill-Sem (Arts), Mark Vickers (Liggins), Michael Witbrock (Science), Student Representative: Jasmine ’Ofamo’oni.

TIE Specialist Leads (2022): Jaime King (Law) and Marie McEntee (Science).

TIE Advisory Group (2022): Kristiann Allen (Koi Tu), Priyanka Dhopade (Eng.), Lina Jahel (B&E), Susan Kemp (EDSW), Sue McGlashen (FMHS), Rod McNaughton (CIE, B&E), Peter Rachor (B&E). Student Representatives: Alofa So’olefai, Jasmine ’Ofamo’oni.

In addition, several consultative meetings and webinars have been undertaken with staff, students, PDDC and the University leadership, to elicit their feedback.

If you would like to share your thoughts on the ideas raised by the TIE working group, or learn more about the wider programme of work, please email the Curriculum Framework Transformation Programme at CFT@auckland.ac.nz.