Promotion of interdisciplinary competence as a challenge for Higher Education

Interdisciplinary co-operation, no matter whether in research or in teaching, makes high demands on all participating players. To reach a shared understanding is the main goal and, at the same time, the major challenge. In interdisciplinary work contexts, experts with different qualities, varying knowledge bases and disciplinary perspectives come together. The extent to which an understanding is possible depends on the ability to exchange knowledge in such a way that it becomes part of a common knowledge base, as well as on one’s own perception of the problem. Therefore, all persons involved must be aware of being both expert and layperson at the same time ...