European higher education institutions and the systems in which they are embedded have very distinct traditions. Their structures and practices vary to a great extent across and within countries, both historically and in present times. However, the diversity that exists among these organizations has not remained the same over time, primarily due to the emerging European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the European Research Area (ERA). These developments created a new space for institutional dynamics which transcends national contexts. Although EHEA and ERA have a distinct character, higher education institutions are the primary players in both fields, and the related European policies represent the corresponding rulebook for the game. In light of these developments it became crucial to understand, how the new framework influences change at institutional level. Drawing on the isomorphism literature, the study intends to explore the major source of institutional isomorphism in the context of Serbia. Organized as a case study, it will look into the possible coercive, mimetic and normative reasons (DiMaggio and Powell 1983) for higher education institutions to establish new rules and structures, which follow closely the European level recommendations. Going beyond the apparent emulation of foreign institutions, the study will also try to shed light on the level of faithfulness in applying these models in practice. The data for analysis will be gathered through semi-structured interviews with representatives of the University of Novi Sad, and through the review of internal policy documents of the University.
