Interdisciplinary Centers in Latin American Universities: The Challenges of Institutionalization

Universities represent a particularly interesting environment for interdisciplinary development; as institutions, they are simultaneously guardians of tradition and spaces for experimentation. This article focuses on initiatives for the creation of institutional spaces for interdisciplinary research in three Latin American universities: Universidad de Buenos Aires in Argentina, Universidad de la Republica in Uruguay and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. The article analyzes the processes of institutionalization of interdisciplinary centers. It compares (a) the context of creation, (b) the conception of interdisciplinarity, (c) the integration into preexisting structures and (d) internal organization and planning of the centers. Our analysis shows a diversity among institutionalization processes and supports the idea that there is no single model for the institutionalization of the interdisciplinary in the region. However, certain common characteristics can be found. These include a rigid bureaucratic structure and a paramount importance of creating consensus. These traits can be related to the legacy of the Cordoba Reform and the prevalence of a traditional institutional governance.