My Transdisciplinary Learning Journey at SP

Now into my third year at Singapore Polytechnic (SP), I have experienced first-hand the power of transdisciplinary learning. I’ll share some of those experiences here. 

My first encounter with transdisciplinary collaboration was during the Car-lite project (Apr 2023), where I worked alongside peers from Aeronautical Engineering (Ying Da), Architecture (William), and Media Arts & Design (Izekkious). Together, we partnered with LTA to encourage car-lite lifestyles among students, blending our diverse expertise to organise an infographic competition. This project showed me first-hand how integrating different disciplines leads to more creative and impactful solutions. Our team’s synergy led us to continue working together on Beyond the Flush! (Sep 2024–ongoing), a collaboration with NEA to promote public hygiene. 

These projects demanded not just subject knowledge, but also effective communication - whether it was giving clear instructions to competition participants or updating our NEA sponsors - and persistent problem-solving as we iterated on prototypes.

Another highlight was SP’s TinkerLab module, where I worked on a project called Recycle GO! (Feb 2025). This module brought together students from various Media, Arts & Design (MAD) disciplines to co-create a virtual reality solution for recycling awareness. The diversity of perspectives and skillsets in our group made brainstorming dynamic and accelerated our prototyping process, perfectly illustrating the power of transdisciplinary teamwork.

Most recently, I led a transdisciplinary team for YMAC (Mar 2025), managing publicity and outreach with students from both Singapore and Indonesia. This experience broadened my horizons beyond technical skills to include cross-cultural collaboration and leadership, with invaluable guidance from my lecturer, Ms Nadine.

My transdisciplinary projects in SP!

Looking back, I can confidently say that SP’s transdisciplinary approach has been transformative. It’s honed my communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, preparing me to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and adaptability. These experiences have not only enriched my learning but also equipped me to thrive in an increasingly complex and unpredictable world. 

Thank you, Mr Mark Lu for championing a transdisciplinary curriculum that empowers students to navigate ambiguity and succeed in a VUCA environment.

Chia Howie

1 June 2025