Scientific Research & Innovation

Institutional Recognition of Interdisciplinary Research in Promotion Systems

AASTMT’s academic promotion policy, as outlined in the 2022–2024 regulations, explicitly recognizes scientific contributions across interdisciplinary domains, especially when they align with the applicant’s primary specialization or applied academic scope. These contributions are incorporated into evaluation decisions for academic ranks such as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Full Professor.

AASTMT’s 2022–2024 promotion framework formally supports the inclusion of interdisciplinary research in academic career progression. By balancing rigor with flexibility, the policy enables cross-disciplinary innovation while maintaining relevance to the candidate’s specialized track. This structure aligns with international norms that reward collaborative, impactful research — a cornerstone of AASTMT’s institutional mission.

The system enables and encourages interdisciplinary research (ISR) by:

• Allowing ISR outputs to be formally counted for promotion (within a 33% cap of the submitted portfolio).
• Requiring committees to assess the depth of contribution in non-core disciplines.
• Acknowledging co-authorship in team-based research using weighted participation models.

Evaluation Framework

Table 1 – How ISR Is Integrated into Promotion Evaluation

Promotion System Framework and Interdisciplinary Integration

In addition to the formal eligibility of interdisciplinary research under Article 6-4-1(b) of the AASTMT promotion regulations [Quote: Up to one-third of submitted research may be interdisciplinary, provided the candidate demonstrates scholarly contribution within their core area.], the university has developed internal systems that recognize, score, and support ISR throughout the promotion process. These are outlined below:

Table 2 – Career Promotion Recognition of Interdisciplinary Research

Promotion Policy in Practice

AASTMT’s promotion policy ensures that:

• Collaborative interdisciplinary publications are valued equally to solo-authored disciplinary works, as long as the faculty member's contribution is documented.
• Interdisciplinary co-authorship does not dilute credit during evaluation — instead, it enhances the impact assessment where team science is essential.
• Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their role in knowledge integration across fields and their contribution to real-world outcomes.

Institutional Enhancements to Support ISR in Promotions

To foster a supportive culture for ISR-based academic progression, AASTMT has:

• Established Interdisciplinary Review Panels with members from multiple faculties for promotions involving complex or cross-sector work.
• Integrated SDG alignment rubrics in annual faculty evaluations, giving interdisciplinary research high visibility in institutional dashboards.
• Created documentation templates that allow faculty to explicitly detail their multi-disciplinary roles in joint papers, proposals, and curricula.

Contribution Examples

Under these rules, AASTMT faculty can include:

• A fluid dynamics researcher working with biomedical and mechanical engineers on smart diagnostics.
• A maritime transport professor collaborating with AI scientists on autonomous vessel routing.
• A renewable energy expert publishing in journals spanning environmental science and policy analysis.

These would all count toward the research quota as long as the faculty member demonstrates scientific involvement and relevance to their academic track.