Pentomino Faces the Limits of Interdisciplinary Convergence
As the Pentomino-promoted convergence between departments has become meaningless, there are voices of regret that sufficient discussion should have preceded its implementation.
Pusan National University (PNU)’s “Pentomino,” which seeks convergence between disciplines, is known to have faced operational challenges.
According to the PNU Office of Educational Affairs’ “PNU Pentomino Curriculum Development Research Project Results Report I and II” on August 20th, only nine out of 65 departments participating in the “Pentomino 1st Stage” in November 2023 are expected to open a “convergence track” and the remaining 56 will open a “single track.” A convergence track refers to a combination of modules made by different departments, and a single track refers to a track that combines modules composed of subjects within a department. If it receives approval from the curriculum committee and the deliberation of the school council in November, it will be opened in the first semester of 2025.
PNU reorganized its 2025 curriculum as part of the “Glocal University 30” project to prepare for the Pentomino project starting in 2023. Like the game of the same name where square puzzle pieces connect to form a complete figure, Pentomino aims to break the boundaries between departments. The goal is for students to be able to acquire knowledge from various majors. If the department composes a pentomino track, a student can complete the track according to their desired career path and have their own major. Expectations were high in that students could choose what to learn on their own without the need for approval from the head of the department.
However, as a result of the operation of the fitst generation Pentomino, 86% of the participating departments chose to offer a single track within their department, making the slogan “breaking the interdisciplinary wall” less impactful. Most of the 22 departments that participated in the ‘Pentomino 2nd’ in July were also found to be planning to open a single track. A PNU Office of Educational Affairs official said, “Pentomino’s ultimate goal was to open at least one convergence track as much as possible for all departments. However, most of the tracks are open mainly to a single track.”
As the convergence between disciplines has not been achieved as expected, there are comments of regret. The reason is that establishing a single track or some convergence tracks alone does not differ from Pentomino and existing curriculums, such as small-scale majors, linked majors, convergence majors, and autonomous majors. Student A(Dept of. Library, Archive, and Information Studies, 22), who is completing the SW Convergence Track, a convergence curriculum linking their major with software, said, “The Pentomino convergence track is expected to offer a wide range of options, so anyone can easily access the disciplines they are interested in and that their expertise is recognized through their diplomas. The internal track is similar to the existing content, so there seems to be no reason to listen.”
Professors pointed out that sufficient discussion is needed among school members. Kim Chang-Seok (Prof. of Optics and Mechatronics Engineering, PNU), who participated in the first generation Pentomino and is seeking to open a convergence track with Dept. of Nanoenergy Engineering and Nanomechatronics Engineering, said, “If Pentomino is conducted by forming a subject module only within one department and lining up the subjects of that department, the goal of Pentomino cannot be achieved. It should be noted that a wide range of recruitment units for establishing convergence tracks can help each department develop, preceded by discussions.”
Lee Ji-Hye (Prof. of Visual Design Major, PNU), who participated in the opening of Pentomino, said, “The current education system, which consists of a single track, is unlikely to make significant changes to the existing curriculum. I hope the goal will be achieved gradually through cooperation with other departments and students.”
The Office of Educational Affairs stated that it will lay the groundwork for the convergence track over time, as Pentomino is a long-term initiative. An Office of Educational Affairs official said, “If it is possible to spread even a pentomino composed of only a single track, we think it will lay the groundwork for the opening of a convergence track between departments. It can be seen as a meaningful attempt in the long run.” He added, “Currently, the research committee and working-level committee (TF team) for the full reorganization of the 2025 curriculum are continuing to review this.”
Reporter Jeong Su-Vin
Translated by Seo Ye-Jin