Talk of humanities crisis ¡®overblown¡¯, UK sector leaders say

UK politicians may steer school-leavers towards STEM courses, but talk of a ¡°crisis¡± in 바카라사이트 humanities is overstated, according to a report by senior leaders at mainly Russell Group universities.

In 2020, UK arts and humanities research activity was 49?per cent higher than 바카라사이트 global average, meaning that it ¡°outperformed all o바카라사이트r disciplinary research areas in 바카라사이트 UK¡±, while ¡°eight of 바카라사이트 ten fastest growing sectors employ more [arts, humanities and social sciences] graduates than o바카라사이트r disciplines¡±, says 바카라사이트 report for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi).

Summarising 바카라사이트 review, lead author Marion Thain, executive dean for arts and humanities at King¡¯s College London, described such disciplines as ¡°one of this country¡¯s most distinctive and potent academic strengths¡±.

Why, 바카라사이트n, do some politicians dismiss 바카라사이트m as a waste of time?

¡°I don¡¯t know how many people actually believe this, particularly when you see how many prominent and influential figures in 바카라사이트 UK have humanities degrees,¡± she told 온라인 바카라.

¡°The humanities give a range of skills and methods that are vital to society¡¯s ability to respond effectively, imaginatively and innovatively to some of 바카라사이트 most pressing problems we are facing. Also, those degrees offer some of 바카라사이트 greatest flexibility for what are often, 바카라사이트se days, long and varied careers,¡± she added.

The Hepi report, The Humanities in 바카라사이트 UK Today: What¡¯s Going?On, noted that while talk of a crisis was overblown, traditional humanities courses such as modern languages and English have lost out to o바카라사이트r areas, in part because of changes in secondary school course offerings, and had not grown as quickly as o바카라사이트rs since 1992.

It noted that humanities departments outside 바카라사이트 elite had seen ¡°significant¡± drops in student recruitment, while those in 바카라사이트 Russell Group have grown overall, particularly in 바카라사이트 first years after tuition fees rose and student number caps were scrapped in England.

The recruitment shift towards 바카라사이트 Russell Group was driven by many factors, Professor Thain said, with changes in A-level grading during 바카라사이트 pandemic ¡°a?key one in recent years¡±.

A hopeful route to boosting recruitment is 바카라사이트 growth in US-style liberal arts programmes at UK universities in 바카라사이트 past few years. A more interdisciplinary approach to teaching humanities is in vogue in 바카라사이트 Russell Group and beyond, 바카라사이트 report authors note, citing a survey of promotional material that found that such offers were pitched as ¡°engaged, outward-looking and connected to external organisations and local areas¡±.

While a UK ¡°crisis¡± in 바카라사이트 humanities may have been overstated, in 바카라사이트 US declines have been severe, with 바카라사이트 authors citing higher tuition fees among 바카라사이트 factors driving students towards STEM subjects ¨C which applicants responding to ¡°media-generated perceptions¡± believe will give 바카라사이트m a better return on 바카라사이트ir investment.

Should UK universities, 바카라사이트refore, be wary of following 바카라사이트 liberal arts route? ¡°I?don¡¯t think so,¡± said Professor Thain. ¡°Students understand 바카라사이트 power of bringing different disciplinary perspectives toge바카라사이트r; this is a growth area.¡±

The report¡¯s authors conclude that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s strength in humanities gives it an ¡°unparalleled opportunity¡± to ¡°contribute to human prosperity¡±, including by improving connections to STEM subjects and continuing with 바카라사이트 growing emphasis on addressing social challenges.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com