Guidebook for inter- and transdisciplinary research methods

Overview
The City of Vienna commissioned the IZT to develop a guide on how to promote an approach that integrates the views of humanities, social and cultural sciences (GSK) in future research projects.
As conceptualized in its strategy paper "Innovative Vienna 2020", the city of Vienna aims to enhance the inter- and transdisciplinary approach of knowledge processes as well as research and development. This can be achieved by enabling the particular contribution made by GSK to shape socially accepted and sustainable innovations.
The aim of this project was to support Viennese universities of applied sciences by providing them with a guidebook which helps them reach their aspiration towards GSK integration in a practical and efficient way.
The project began with an analysis of the research priorities of Viennese universities of applied sciences and their role in the national research and education landscape. Based on this analysis, the extent to which basic assumptions and methods of GSK are suitable for integration in technical, scientific and economic research projects was scrutinized. Possible interfaces for GSK integration were identified, followed by descriptions of the best practices for successful integration and opportunities for cooperation.
The guidebook aims to support researchers at Viennese universities of applied sciences in identifying interfaces for the integration of GSK and in enabling this integration.
To ensure the practicality of the GSK guidebook it was presented, discussed and validated at universities of applied sciences.
Qualified critical remarks were adopted in the final version of the guide and presented to Viennese universities of applied sciences, together with recommendations for further consideration of GSK.