EARLY INSTITUTIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARITY AND INTERDISCIPLINARITY IN EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN EUROPE – CENTER FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE (1970s – 80s)

Foundation of one of the first European institutions of its type – Center for Multidisciplinary studies of the University of Belgrade – is described as a case of research policy and the strong influence of human factor in the specific circumstances of post-war domestic and foreign policy of Yugoslavia and world politics during the Cold War. A new source material is presented, with a focus on innovation points and challenges. Center was founded concurrently with the activities of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Center for Educational Research and Innovation on promoting interdisciplinarity in higher education. Innovative initiatives that were crossed in this institution, as well as difficulties the Center encountered, confirm conclusions from the ’70s that interdisciplinary teaching and research represent crucial innovative points at universities and that implementing them has been followed by enormous difficulties.