Interdisciplinarity and higher education

Abstract

One aspect of the current world-wide concern with the environment has been the questioning of traditional forms of higher education. A re-examination of the adequacy of higher education in meeting world needs will continue to be encountered. One important aspect of this re-examination is a consideration of the value of interdisciplinary innovation. Interdisciplinarity, and indeed all other forms of innovation, must be viewed from the perspective of entire educational systems. Healthy diversity within systems of higher education and a healthy environment for experimentation and innovation within institutions will be needed to enable us to face the challenges. Interdisciplinarity is one approach which can enhance the social usefulness of higher education world-wide, at the same time contributing to its theoretical elegance. © 1973 Gordon and Breach Science Publishers Ltd.