The crossroads to success

With the ties between art, commerce and STEM becoming stronger, students who prioritise interdisciplinary learning are more likely to attract lucrative jobs
In the age of innovation, where technology and creativity are converging, students who embrace interdisciplinary learning are positioning themselves for future success. By choosing seemingly disparate fields, they can build lasting careers and unlock a world of possibilities.

The future of learning

Combining art, commerce and STEM equips students with the skills needed to thrive in evolving industries like technology and creative economies. Praneet Mungali, a trustee at Sanskriti Group of Schools, says, “The creative disruption caused by advanced technologies has made the old methods for planning careers redundant. Interdisciplinary learning is essential in today’s context because the broader the base of general learning, the greater will be the ability to withstand any technology-enabled obsolescence.”

Innovation through integration

To truly innovate, one needs knowledge of multiple disciplines and varied perspectives, which is only possible with holistic learning. Prof. Venkataramanan, Pro-Vice Chancellor, FLAME University, remarks, “This promotes lateral thinking, which is now becoming indispensable, as it draws connections across domains. For example, digital marketing is as much about understanding algorithms and data analytics as it is about building narratives and brand aesthetics. Similarly, sustainable product design needs engineering expertise to develop eco-friendly solutions, economic prowess for scalability and a creative side to design products. To innovate effectively, one must be able to think creatively and imagine new solutions rather than replicating what already exists. Interdisciplinary education precisely creates these kinds of visionary thinkers.”

Adaptability is paramount

Students must ensure they remain competitive in a job market increasingly shaped by AI and automation. Diwakar Chittora, the CEO and founder of Intellipaat, details, “Individuals adept at just coding solve problems while those who possess business acumen and design thinking solve the right issues at scale. The world needs fewer task executors and more solution architects. Students should be trained to connect the dots across disciplines, enabling them to lead product teams, launch startups and drive innovation. Interdisciplinary talent moves faster, adapts quicker and helps in making better decisions.”

Breaking down silos

Educational institutions face persistent challenges in implementing effective curricula. According to Venkataramanan, while the list of hurdles remains long, the primary concerns are assessment methods, structural inflexibility and resistance to change. Chittora concludes, “Rigid silos and outdated assessment models must b e addressed. Additionally, interdisciplinary outcomes are harder to assess using conventional exams. Institutions can overcome this by building project-based, industry-driven curricula, co-created with experts from tech, design and business fields. It’s not just about changing what we teach-but how and why we teach it.”

This article has valuable insights from Prof. Venkataramanan, Pro-Vice Chancellor, FLAME University.