Institutional Self-Assessment Report on Interdisciplinary Science Research (ISR): Advancing Collaborative and Impact-Driven Research at JOSTUM

1. Does your institution provide specific physical facilities for interdisciplinary science research teams within applicable disciplines?

Yes. JOSTUM provides dedicated and shared physical infrastructure designed to support interdisciplinary science research across agriculture, environmental science, chemistry, engineering, and related fields. The University operates centralized laboratories and research hubs, including advanced analytical chemistry laboratories, environmental monitoring facilities, soil and water testing laboratories, and biotechnology and nanomaterials research spaces.

These facilities are intentionally structured as shared-use platforms, enabling collaboration among researchers from different faculties. Additionally, experimental farms, pilot processing units, and field stations support translational and cross-disciplinary research, particularly in sustainable agriculture, environmental remediation, and food systems. Ongoing investments in laboratory modernization and equipment acquisition further strengthen interdisciplinary capacity.

2. Does your institution provide specific administrative support for interdisciplinary science research teams within applicable disciplines?

Yes. JOSTUM has established administrative structures that actively support interdisciplinary research. The Directorate of Research and Innovation and the Postgraduate School provide coordination, grant facilitation, and project management support for interdisciplinary teams.

The University also operates a Research Policy Framework that encourages cross-departmental collaboration and provides guidance on joint proposals, budgeting, and reporting. Dedicated support is available for identifying funding opportunities, proposal development, ethics approvals, and partnership building with industry and international collaborators.

Furthermore, institutional committees and research clusters are constituted to bring together experts from diverse disciplines to address thematic areas such as climate change, sustainable agriculture, environmental pollution, and public health.

3. Does your institution have a tenure or career promotion system in place that recognizes interdisciplinary science research teams within applicable disciplines?

Yes. JOSTUM’s academic promotion and appraisal system recognizes interdisciplinary research contributions. The criteria for promotion include collaborative publications, multidisciplinary research grants, and cross-cutting project leadership, which incentivize staff participation in interdisciplinary teams.

The University’s guidelines explicitly acknowledge co-authored works, multi-investigator grants, and applied research outputs that address complex societal challenges. Increasing emphasis is also placed on impact-driven research, including policy relevance, community engagement, and innovation outputs, which are often inherently interdisciplinary.

4. Since participating in ISR, has your institution introduced any changes to support interdisciplinary science?

Yes. Participation in the ISR framework has catalyzed several improvements at JOSTUM. These include:

• Strengthening of institutional research policies to more explicitly prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Establishment and expansion of thematic research clusters aligned with global challenges such as climate change, food security, and environmental sustainability.
• Enhanced investment in shared research infrastructure and digital collaboration tools.
• Increased support for multi-disciplinary grant applications, including internal review mechanisms and mentorship for early-career researchers.
• Promotion of cross-faculty seminars, workshops, and training programmes to foster integration of diverse scientific perspectives.

These efforts reflect a deliberate institutional shift toward a more collaborative and problem-oriented research ecosystem.

5. Is there any feedback you would like to share about ISR?

JOSTUM appreciates the ISR initiative for highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary science in addressing complex global challenges. The framework has been instrumental in encouraging institutional reflection and strengthening collaborative research systems.

We recommend further refinement of indicators to better capture context-specific innovation, particularly in developing-country institutions where interdisciplinary research often addresses local sustainability challenges with global relevance. Additionally, expanding capacity-building support and providing clearer benchmarking tools would enhance participation and impact.

Overall, ISR is a valuable platform that aligns well with JOSTUM’s strategic vision of advancing solution-driven, interdisciplinary research for sustainable development.