Assessing needs for interdisciplinarity in agriculture, nutrition, and health education

Roshania, RP; Yates, J; McIntyre, L; Chancellor, T; Fivian, E; Hill, M; Isoto, R; Marinda, P; Narayanan, S; Whatford, L; Zotor, F; Khandelwal, S

Abstract

Addressing all forms of malnutrition requires multi-sectoral actions. To accelerate progress, post-graduate ed-ucation - of future researchers, policy-makers and practitioners - that promotes interdisciplinary knowledge and skills is imperative. We report findings from a mixed-methods needs assessment designed to assess enabling and constraining factors to integrated agriculture, nutrition, and health education. An online questionnaire was disseminated among experts in relevant disciplines, followed by focus group discussions among faculty members teaching in post-graduate institutions in low-and middle-income countries. We find that student motivation, instructor background, fixed curricula, and siloes among implementation agencies are important barriers to interdisciplinary education. Experiential learning and collaborations within and across institutions are enabling factors. We present key aspects of an interdisciplinary educational model that consider systemic and institutional realities of specialized institutions and low funding.

Citation

Roshania, R., Yates, J., McIntyre, L., Chancellor, T., Fivian, E., Hill, M., …Khandelwal, S. (2023). Assessing needs for interdisciplinarity in agriculture, nutrition, and health education. Global Food Security, 37, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100691

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 13, 2023
• Online Publication Date: May 13, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Feb 14, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 14, 2024
• Print ISSN: 2211-9124
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 37
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2023.100691
• Keywords: Interdisciplinarity; Agriculture; Nutrition; Health; Post -graduate education; LMIC; CHILD UNDERNUTRITION; DOUBLE BURDEN; LOW-INCOME; INTERVENTIONS; MALNUTRITION; PROGRESS; DONE