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From Models to Pathways: A Typological Study of Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Education in Industry-Background Higher Education Institutions

Author(s)

Xihuang Lai*

Affiliation(s)

Graduate School, North China University of Technology, Beijing, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

Training postgraduate students in interdisciplinary subjects is crucial for the comprehensive reform of postgraduate education in China. However, existing research has largely focused on the macro-level design of training models, paying insufficient attention to the meso-level element of 'training pathways' and lacking differentiated analyses of pathways for various types of interdisciplinary programs. This study examines institutions that were directly affiliated with either the former Ministry of Metallurgy or the former China National Nonferrous Metals Industry Corporation. Using a classification framework comprising four types of interdisciplinarity - theory aggregation, theory community, practice aggregation, and practice community - derived from two dimensions, the mode of knowledge generation and the mode of knowledge interaction, this research systematically identifies the corresponding postgraduate training pathways for each type. The findings suggest that the 'theory-aggregation' type is most appropriate for interdisciplinary student recruitment pathways, the 'theory-community' type for curriculum integration pathways, the 'practice-aggregation' type for project-driven pathways, and the 'practice-community' type for platform-based collaborative pathways. These pathways are effective through a mediating mechanism of 'training objectives-training competencies-training outcomes', moderated by boundary conditions such as institutional development level and regional gradients. This study reveals the underlying mechanisms of interdisciplinary postgraduate training pathways, offering practical guidance for industry-backed universities and providing references for policy formulation.

Keywords

Industry Background; Multi-Type; Interdisciplinary; Postgraduate Training; Training Pathways

References

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