Round Table China Global cutbacks in liberal arts education?
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Jan 3, 2025 A global trend shows liberal arts education in sharp decline, even at prestigious institutions like Harvard. The focus is shifting predominantly to STEM fields, leaving culture and philosophy in the shadows. Discussions reveal the financial struggles and access issues for humanities students, particularly from lower-income backgrounds. Concerns rise over the societal implications of this prioritization. In China, there's a push to modernize liberal arts, advocating for their integration with STEM to ensure their relevance and value in today's technology-driven world.
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Humanities Under Pressure
- Humanities degrees have faced survival challenges since the 2008 financial downturn.
- Harvard's cancellation of humanities classes signals deeper shifts in academia and the global economy.
Global Decline of Liberal Arts
- Universities worldwide are cutting back on liberal arts programs.
- Examples include Missouri Western, West Virginia University, University of Kent, and Australian universities raising tuition fees.
Australian Tuition Hike for Humanities
- Australian universities have drastically increased tuition for humanities.
- This contrasts sharply with reduced fees for STEM and job-ready courses.