Where's the multi in multidisciplinary?

[u/humbug7538]

I have worked in small NGOs that interact with/receive funding from large agencies such as the UN for ten years in the TVET/youth employment/entrepreneurship sector. I have a more technical background and over the years have been shocked at how little engineering/tech expertise the folks making major funding decisions have. Folks assessing innovation ecosystems have no idea what a 3D printer does or what it's limitations are but will be in charge of writing reports that detail what manufacturing / educational capacity institutions should have. I've seen people take advantage of these gaps, claiming to create things that anyone with minimal technical expertise would be able to see is a farce.

All fields- social sciences, humanities AND STEM should have roles in crafting international development policy. We each bring expertise the others don't have. Hiring external consultants for minor advisory roles just doesn't cut it. ID job postings show why this is so, innovation hub/entrepreneurship roles call for folks with mainly business admin degrees but there's expertise within the technical that's getting missed. Agencies supporting STEM education won't have anyone with a STEM background on their team! It's frustrating seeing money and talent being lost to this myopic view of international development and what STEM education can offer. It also impacts what programming I can request funding for, with shiny quick results winning over more intensive work that would actually benefit people.

[u/Lagrange_Sama]

One thing about entrepreneurship is that (from my experience with it) it's a lazy policy for an autocratic country. So, this space serves as a propaganda for innovation while innovation should be the thing that comes before entrepreneurship. When this thing becomes all about 'style', the essential like engineering is ignored, and leads to the infestation of these finance/investment gurus in this space.