Higher Education in the World 7
Societies are witnessing profound changes with clear implications for the future; these environmental, scientific, technological, cultural and social transformations are presenting transcendental challenges in terms of thinking and rethinking the meaning and value of human experience, and even of what it means to be human. These challenges can only be tackled through a holistic approach involving the humanities, science and technology. Together, they must necessarily play their part as both drivers and critics within the framework of these transformations.
With contributions from 130 experts from around the world, the 7th Higher Education in the World Report Humanities and Higher Education: Synergies between Science, Technology and Humanities (HEIW7) aims to provide the academic community, policymakers and decision-makers within higher education and wider society with a diagnosis and analysis of the current state of affairs, and offer proposals that can broaden our horizons towards a much needed integrated approach to knowledge.
The report was launched in Barcelona on the 10th December 2019 and it will be presented in several conferences and seminars around the world.
Objectives of the Report
Some of the specific aims of the Higher Education in the World Report 7 are to:
• Explore the relation between humanities, science and technology in different societies around the world and showcase examples of synergies in different higher education systems.
• Explore how humanities should address major current transformations regarding science and technology and their ethical challenges.
• Address the different roles higher education should play as a social agent and explore the possible relations between university and wider society.
• Map and understand the global challenges that are calling for a new paradigm in the relation between science, technology and humanities and explore the role that higher education should play in addressing them.
• Delve into the issue of the multiplicity of knowledges beyond the current Western paradigm of knowledge.
• Identify key skills and competences to be developed in the face of current changes to social, economic and labour systems, as well as exploring teaching methodologies, curricula and the concept of lifelong learning.
• Identify and understand current issues and trends in research in humanities, science and technology (socially responsible research, budgets, Open Science and Open Data) and discuss possible ways to move forward and enhance research practices and policies.
• Analyze the question of impact in terms of the current indicators and measures and their positive and negative influence on science, technology and humanities as well as proposing new options to address current practices and needs.
• Explore the issue of gender equality in terms of access to education, academic careers and the choice of studies.
• Analyze gender in science, technology and humanities in terms of ideological paradigms as well as exploring the way to embed the gender focus throughout the disciplines and beyond specific gender studies.
• Investigate environmental issues (in their broadest sense) in the Anthropocene in terms of knowledge, ethics and human experience as well as exploring the development and implementation of the SDGs in all fields of knowledge.
• Discuss engagement in its broadest scope, including democracy, equality and identity through the lens of humanities and the role of higher education in this process.
• Examine/consider the role and commitment of higher education systems in relation to the future of work, as well as its dignity and its quality.
