Interdisciplinary Research And The Construction Of Research University

With the trend of integration on the basis of high specialization,the development of modern science significantly shows the tendency of interdisciplinary research,inter-pervasion,and high degree of synthesis, systematism and integration.However,interdiscipline is the self-choice during the course of self development and evolutionary process of science and technology,since it provides a new dialogue and communication manner which could result in new knowledge.It contributes a lot to inspire researchers and provide deep understandings of the universe and the time and space for them, hence playing an increasing important role.Interdisciplinary research fills the huge gap between natural science and social science,shortening the distance among traditional disciplines and making the science system become an organic whole.In the past decades,the trend of thoughts aroused by interdisciplinary research has pushed the modern science towards new heights.Interdisciplinary research not only promotes the development of traditional subject,but also becomes the feature of modern science and an approach to improve technical innovation ability.As the intellectual headspring and academic center,Research University shoulders dual responsibility of scientific research and the cultivation of senior talents.Broad interdisciplinary researches are the root of academic innovation, while Research University is the main force of a country's self-innovation. During the construction of Research University,overcoming interdisciplinary obstacles and reinforcing interdisciplinary research are primary tasks rather than a concept of philosophy of science or a concept with the field of higher education. Though interdisciplinary research has become a new research paradigm of modern science,the correlation between interdisciplinary research and the construction of Research University has been far from clearly investigated.This paper aims to fill the gap on this topic and the whole paper comprises six chapters,focusing on two points:Firstly,the definition and development of discipline and interdisciplinary were shown at the beginning of this paper,followed by an analysis of the characteristics and the modes of interdisciplinary research.By a broad review of available literature home and abroad,overall development situation and the modes of interdisciplinary research in American and European developed countries were clearly presented through diverse dimensions,such as: international interdisciplinary conference,interdisciplinary academic magazines, interdisciplinary research achievements and typical interdisciplinary research projects.Cases were also used to demonstrate the birth and growth of a new interdisciplinary subject.Secondly,closely related to the need from the construction of Research University,this paper investigated the relationship between interdisciplinary research and Research University,including the following aspects:an overall review and analysis of current interdisciplinary research status of both Chinese and foreign research universities;a summary of obstacles in the development of interdisciplinary research and suggestions to solve them.To elaborate on this point,this paper provides the following suggestions:1) a systematic and theoretical construction plan was suggested aiming at interdisciplinary specialty setting which is the center of the reform of specialty within higher education.2) Interdisciplinary research associations and research team construction,matrix construction of interdisciplinary research structure,interdisciplinary research support system and high education system reform were suggested to promote the construction of Research University and also to provide prospect for future research.The research finds and innovation of this paper are mainly indicated as follows:First,there is innovation of research perspective in this paper.At present, there is a diversity of research prospective of Research University within academic field in China.Academic research is the leading function of Research University while interdisciplinary research has been a new research paradigm of modern science.But the relationship between them has been scarcely studied so far.This paper analyzed present research status of interdisciplinary research and summarized the obstacles standing in the way,putting forward suggestions and countermeasure to overcome these difficulties and to promote the development of research university.Second,in China,scientific research and teaching in universities were arranged according to traditional single subject system which doesn't leave much space for new interdisciplinary subject and consequently becomes the obstacle of deep development of interdisciplinary research.Taking specialty setting as the breakthrough point,this paper put forward a new systematic and theoretical construction plan for the reform of high education specialty and the setup of interdisciplinary subject degree,program.Furthermore,some concepts were put forward with originality in this paper,such as:interdisciplinary subject incubator and etc.Third,suggestions and countermeasures to promote the rapid construction and development of Research University which conform to the situation in China were provided in this paper.A thorough interdisciplinary research paradigm revolution was suggested.Taking the chance of specialty reform,a new scientific research and teaching administration system,which benefits the construction of first-level disciplines,the cultivation of talents,the accomplishment of first-level scientific achievements,should be established through the establishment of interdisciplinary academic associations and the specialty reform in higher education.