Experiences with TU Delft Joint interdisciplinary Project
The Joint interdisciplinary Project (JiP) has run very successfully for a second time this academic year with 50 students from 8 different faculties. Eleven companies were involved in coaching and evaluating of students on a company brief. The JiP education programme consists of working on a design case provided and coached by a company. The brief with the problem is related to minimally 2 of the sustainable development goals (SDG) and solved in an interdisciplinary team of engineers, designers and scientists during a 10 weeks full-time education quarter. Students are based in the company part of the time and become acquainted with many key persons in the company, such as the CEO/Head R&D. During the process, there is a kick-off, including teambuilding, skills drill and most importantly: technical business courses such as business model canvas, agile working, technical innovation, risk assessment and critical assumption testing. During the 10 weeks, three major reviews with academic staff and company coaches for the assessment of the work are taking place. The course is finalised with a public defense, open to a wide audience.Â
Student highlights
Both students and companies have highly appreciated the involvement in the Joint interdisciplinary Project. Students particularly liked working in interdisciplinary teams, the company assignment and the possibilities to expand their networks. They felt inspired by their team mates, the confrontation with different mindsets and skills and liked how they became more assertive  persons. Having a taste of working life and the opportunity to have an impact as a team on the company product were additional highlights. Also, the learning of agile management skills was highly valued. Finally, building up a broad network within and outside academia with expert feedback from industry professionals and academic staff was felt to contribute to the overall steep learning curve of the students. Students experienced JiP as a personal growth sprint and felt better prepared for professional life after university.Â
Added value for companies
A nice range of companies was involved: Airbus, Arcadis, Axxiflex, Feadship, FreshTec, LEAN, Royal Haskoning DHV, Huisman, and WE-P Companies were equally enthusiastic about the students' contributions. The added value for their companies was particularly found in a new conceptual perspective, insight from different disciplines and a fresh look towards existing problems. Feedback for the TU Delft was to get their academic staff more involved and realise more mutual exposure with professionals. The involvement of the academic staff would be to more closely monitor the validity of the student concepts and to bridge the gap between the realisation of a viable business case and academic assessment.Â
Next year JiP is expected to run with 200 students from different faculties. Would you like to know more? Please consult our website or read more about the case results of students in this article.