Breaking disciplinary silos: a student-centered model for global study tours

University study tours are typically one-off, discipline-focused, and involve standardized assessments. However, real-world issues are complex and cannot be solved within the confines of a single discipline. To advocate for students’ roles as global citizens and demonstrate the necessity of transdisciplinary, transectoral, and transcultural collaboration in promoting global change, students should have opportunities to examine these problems firsthand beyond their hometowns and have platforms to teach others what they’ve learned. Since 2024, the Division of Transdisciplinary Undergraduate Programmes at Hong Kong Baptist University has launched a student-centered and problem-oriented pedagogical model for global study tours. In collaboration with overseas universities in Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia, this initiative aims to break down disciplinary silos by bringing together students from various disciplines at two universities. A total of 104 undergraduate students examined environmental problems related to the SDGs. Without standardized worksheets, students formulated their own questions and interviewed stakeholders and local community members to gain a deeper understanding. Upon returning to Hong Kong, the students produced teaching videos and led tutorials for 140 freshmen in a related course, creating an intracohort legacy. This approach enhanced students’ transdisciplinary skills, fostered global citizenship and sustainability awareness, and prepared them for the global workplace.