Edition: June 8th, 2021
Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
Excerpts from article published on tcglobal.com
Around the world, COVID-19 has put a lot to test. It has questioned our safety nets, health infrastructures, professional patience, body immunity, and now, definitely and silently, our most-sought career options.
The gap between STEM and humanities graduates has been a cause for concern since pre-COVID days. According to a study, by 2016, undergrads in STEM had increased while those in humanities had declined.
However, now that the pandemic has highlighted the need for adaptability, empathy, analytical thinking and inclusiveness, the demand for Arts and Humanities graduates will definitely increase.
The World Needs Thinkers
- Countries are battling COVID and its added complexities in areas such as economic growth, productivity, poverty and ageing.
- In wake of such an unprecedented situation, many governments may feel more inclined towards prioritising science and engineering education as a part of the ‘solution’.
- However, experts have repeatedly pointed out that to solve the complexity of this scale, countries would require well-rounded leaders with analytical and creative thinking, which are more associated with Arts, Humanities and Social Science degrees.
- Therefore, it is not wrong to assume that there is a dire need for the world to eventually move towards the intersection of technical jobs along with the hiring of people who are experts in creativity and empathy and design thinking.
- There will definitely be a need for stronger leadership to deal with the complex problems that have exacerbated in the pandemic.
- Studies have shown that graduates from humanities and social sciences degrees tend to perform best against a range of leadership skills because of their ability to see a broader scenario.
- Experts have pointed out that in challenging times, Arts and Humanities address the crucial spiritual dimension of human beings and enrich societies that cannot only be fed on productivity, entrepreneurship, innovation, and AI.
- Therefore, now, when people are in trouble because of lockdown and economic slowdown, emotions and humanity have become the burning topics of discussion.
- The world is seeing a potential change in attitudes, habits, and values of young people who are currently at school and may possibly have another way of seeing what is more valuable in the world.
- The arts will be part of the solution to the pandemic as much as the sciences and technology.
Stay on with Liberal Arts
- The world urgently needs more mature adults who understand how different fields interact with each other, are interconnected, and affect each other. This is a must for all-round innovative solutions.
- One way of doing this is not by switching majors just yet, but probably discussing changing the concentration in the major one has chosen or is bound to choose.
- Even in a critical situation like the current pandemic, experts have most definitely cautioned upcoming graduates from changing majors just to adjust to the expected job market upon graduation.
No matter how grim the job market situation may become, it is still very much the need of the hour to study what you are interested in and are good at, as that will maximise your potential, and bring success, happiness and meaning into your life.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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