The slow death of the humanities

To prevent the death of arts and humanities faculties more substantial financial support is urgently required.

Submitted 18/09/2007 By Tashio6 Views 9429 Comments 5 Updated 9/10/2007

Written on toilet cubicle wall in the Engineering Faculty at RMIT
Photographer : drwmak

Out of all the people undertaking degrees at universities, Bachelor of Arts students face the most amount of mockery. Constantly ribbed about their lack of study and job opportunities, they fight a tiring battle standing up for what they’re enrolled in. However with humanities departments and arts faculties Australia-wide under threat, these jokes may soon be disappearing for all the wrong reasons.

In recent years, humanities and arts faculties have dealt with staff cuts, as well as a decline in enrolments and the number of subjects on offer. It doesn’t help that for the past decade, the federal government has consistently reduced its funding towards higher education. Commonwealth funding now accounts for 40 per cent of university income, down from 60 per cent ten years ago. This means universities have had to look to other means to make money. Recent changes in HECS have allowed universities to make up their budget shortfalls by luring the big spenders—full-fee paying and international students. In fact, 25 per cent of the undergraduate students in Australian universities are now overseas students.

With arts degrees attracting less income than vocational degrees, it comes as no surprise that they don’t tend to appear in university advertising campaigns to domestic or overseas students.

Earlier this year, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) made a shock announcement—it will significantly scale back its humanities and social science degrees in 2008. High drop-out rates, financial issues and low graduate employment opportunities were the culprits. Vice Chancellor Peter Coaldrake claimed that QUT was looking to focus on vocational-based degrees in its creative industries program.

Changes to university structures have also had an impact on humanities. Melbourne University, for example, is due to adopt the ‘Melbourne Model’—an American approach, where only six broad undergraduate degrees are available for study. Traditional degrees such as law, engineering and medicine will only be available to study at postgraduate level on completion of a broad undergraduate degree. As a result, the range of subjects on offer to students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level will be significantly reduced.

By 2008, it is estimated that undergraduate subjects available in the Arts Faculty at Melbourne University will be reduced by 19 per cent. After mergers and cuts, the number of postgraduate courses will also drop by approximately 86 per cent. The ability to choose from a smorgasbord of courses—from creative writing to media studies—may no longer be an option.

Australia’s best and brightest academics are also suffering. In a recent leaked report from Melbourne University, it was revealed that 120 full-time jobs may be cut from the Arts Faculty. These drastic measures are part of the university’s solution to the faculty’s growing deficit, which is estimated to reach $12 million by 2010 if no action is taken.

The demise of arts and humanities departments is a sign of the times. A ‘career culture’ now exists in Australian universities. Degrees have become centred on a student’s end occupation—the piece of paper that pronounces you an accountant, lawyer or doctor. Yet current social research indicates that the average person has five or more careers in their lifetime. In light of this, universities should emphasise transferable skills and lifelong learning.

You can’t put an arts graduate into one box. However arts degrees open many career doors. Studying the humanities builds sound research skills, and helps develop analytical and critical thinking and a better understanding of the globalised world. Arts graduates are well equipped to question society, to seek answers, to challenge themselves and to think creatively. Are these not skills highly valued by prospective employers?

Maybe an arts degree isn’t as sexy as one in medicine, but a world without the study of humanities would be a miserable place; think of the creativity, intellectual debate and expression it brings to the world. The federal government needs to support humanities and value its research and contribution to society. The provision of $200,000 in 2003 to create the Council for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, an organisation aimed at promoting and advocating for these sectors, was a step in the right direction. Yet to prevent the death of arts and humanities faculties more substantial financial support is urgently required.

How do I know this?

The Australian Academy of the Humanities, http://www.humanities.org.au/Home.htm

ABC News 2007, Humanities axing will spark 'national trend', ABC News Online, May 16, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/05/16/1924089.htm

Australian Research Council 1998, Knowing ourselves and others: the humanities in Australia into the 21st Century, http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/aah/research/review

Bibby, P 2007, ‘Oh, the humanities: faculty cuts at UNSW’, Sydney Morning Herald, May 23, http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/oh-the-humanities-faculty-cuts-at-unsw/2007/05/22/1179601405225.html

Carr, B 2001, ‘Valuing the Humanities’, Australian Review of Public Affairs,12 April, http://www.australianreview.net/digest/2001/04/carr.html

Commonwealth of Australia 2003, 'Hacking Australia's Future: threats to institutional autonomy, academic freedom and student choice in Australian higher education', Senate Inquiry, November, http://www.aph.gov.au/SENATE/committee/EET_CTTE/
completed_inquiries/2002-04/highed2003/report/index.htm

Commonwealth of Australia 2003, ‘Universities in Crisis— Chapter Three: the funding of higher education’, Senate Inquiry, http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/Committee/eet_ctte/
completed_inquiries/1999-02/public_uni/report/contents.htm

Council for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences http://www.chass.org.au/

Doran, D 2007, ‘Axing humanities school not sensible’, ABC News Online, May 17, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/05/17/1925245.htm

Gaita, R 2007, ‘Betrayed by utilitarianism?’, The Australian, July 14, http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22072902-12149,00.html

Mares, P & Bishop, J 2006, ‘Education's future in Australia’, The National Interest, 20 July, http://www.abc.net.au/rn/
nationalinterest/stories/2006/1699930.htm

McLintock, P 2007, ‘Students slam QUT plan to dump humanities’, ABC News Online, May 15, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/05/15/1923298.htm

Melbourne University, Arts: FAQs about changes, http://www.arts.unimelb.edu.au/about/faq.htm

Morton, A 2007, ‘“Revival” plan to axe quarter of uni's arts staff’, The Age, 1 August, http://www.theage.com.au/articles/
2007/07/17/1184559789291.html

Queensland University of Technology—Creative Industries, http://www.creativeindustries.qut.com/about_us/creative-industries.jsp

Tomazin, F & Morton, A 2007, ‘Melbourne Uni warned over new model “hype”’, The Age, 3 September, http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/melbourne-uni-warned-over-new-model-hype/2007/09/02/1188671795847.html

Discuss Now

Post Comment

Millina 07-Dec-2007

One of the reasons that I decided to undertake an Arts degree was that I wasn't really sure of what I wanted to do. While applying for uni courses, many people made me feel as if what I chose would be the be-all-and-end-all, however what I found was that with the Arts degree, I was able to enter into uni with an open mind that allowed me to appreciate the different possibilities. Being exposed to the wide variety to subjects has broadened my perspective and has allowed me to re-evaluate my options.

ElectraWoman 24-Sep-2007

Hi Tash,

Thanks for your reasoned response.

I agree with you that a compulsory internship and increased advice to prospective humanities students should be implemented by universities. When I was still studying, I did not think that the internship was promoted enough by the university, which is a shame because as your experience has shown, it proved to be very useful.

While ideally employers should be more appreciative of Arts graduates, it would also be helpful if both universities and students can convince employers of their worth. Internships and practical advice will greatly assist this cause, if universities are serious about improving the current state of humanities courses. I recall reading in a jobs handbook last year that around a third of Arts graduates have difficulties finding work after graduation, and their general starting salary is amongst the lowest of all graduates. It is a shame, though, because I also believe that Arts graduates have much to offer to the workforce.

Natasha Chow 23-Sep-2007

Thanks for your comments.

Cissi, I think you raise some valid points. Most people who do study BAs are acutely aware of the pressure of finding an appropriate job after graduating. Many enter the public service, as it is one sector where the research and analytical skills of arts graduates tend to be more appreciated and desirable to employers particularly in policy-based work.

During my arts degree I completed a internship style unit where I completed an intensive 3-week long work placement. I found this to be extremely useful and in fact believe that work placements should be compulsory for standard BA degrees. It gives students a better understanding about what it's like in the "real world" and how their skills can be put to use. Work placements also create practical skills that are immediately applicable in new jobs.

Another possible solution is to ensure that arts students are given appropriate career guidance before/during/after their studies and have every opportunity to make the most out of their degree or to continue further studies. Prospective students often don't receive enough information or advice before they enrol in an arts degree.

I certainly don't think it's easy for arts graduates to get a job, but then again it can also be difficult for other graduates as well. This may be more of a reflection on the job market itself (depending on what sort of career you're aiming towards) and the need for employers to realise the potential of arts graduates and giving them more of a chance.

ElectraWoman 22-Sep-2007

I agree with you in principle about the validity about the humanities, and I am also concerned with the current state of affairs. Having an Arts degree myself, I have no regrets with completing my qualification.

However, I think another issue that has to be addressed is the application of an humanities degree into the real world. I've heard countless times similar sentiments about the intellectual expression humanities encourages, and how such a degree creates people with strong research and analytical skills. You asked (rhetorically, I assume) in your article, "Are these not skills highly valued by prospective employers?" and from my experience as a Arts graduate in the workforce, the answer is "no".

It is unfortunate that it seems the job market at present - at least in Western Australia - is more intent on searching for graduates with immediately applicable skills. The problem with a humanities degree is its general broadness. Being a generalist counts against a person if an employer is looking for people with specific, immediately transferable skills.

You are correct in saying that, "You can’t put an arts graduate into one box." In my opinion, that is the problem with an Arts degree. I wonder whether the downturn in enrollments and funding in the humanities is mainly because of the generalist aspect of an Arts degree which make the humanities less appealing than other qualifications, or if universities are indeed increasingly vulture-like in their need for funding, hence they are promoting other qualifications at the expense of the humanities. It is a chicken-and-egg issue.

Regardless of what has caused the issue with the humanities, I believe it will be a difficult issue to resolve. Perhaps universities should put more emphasis on what exactly can a humanities graduate can expect in terms of career paths, instead of giving vague platitudes about research skills, analytical skills and being a strong/creative/etc thinker.

Sheree 20-Sep-2007

'but a world without the study of humanities would be a miserable place; think of the creativity, intellectual debate and expression it brings to the world. '

I'm really glad you wrote this.

great article!!

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