Since September this year, Times Higher Education has published a series of university subject rankings for 2022.The latest release is the disciplinary ranking of "Art and Humanities".Recently, the newspaper said that through this ranking, it is not difficult to find a noteworthy phenomenon, that is, those science and engineering universities known for focusing on technology, have risen in the list.Not only that, but many of the top universities with comprehensive attributes but also known for their technology are at the top of the list in this discipline.
The universities known by Times Higher Education for focusing on technology are, in fact, what we call science and engineering universities in China.
For example, the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the famous California Institute of Technology (Caltech), if translated strictly literally, would be "Massachusetts Institute of Technology" and "California Institute of Technology."But we all know that this is not the case, they are "MIT" and "Caltech", respectively, translated as "technical" rather than "technical", more in line with the school's positioning, purpose and subject characteristics.
Which science and engineering universities are among the best in the humanities?
The new findings in the above-mentioned changes in the ranking of disciplines are not accidental.In fact, as early as 2018, Times Higher Education argued that a group of universities would improve their rankings in the future, as they each developed their own technology-driven strategies that explicitly focused on developing technology.
This group of 35 colleges and universities has been named "Technical Challengers" by the newspaper for their track record in computer science and engineering, as well as strong industry connections.Most of these universities have innovation at the heart of their strategy, but it is worth noting that they also have arts and humanities departments and all participate in the world ranking of disciplines.
Today, three years later, it seems surprising to find that 22 of these 35 colleges and universities have increased their scores in arts and humanities, and their rankings have improved significantly.
Iowa State University, for example, has improved its Arts and Humanities score by 10 points over the past two years and has risen from 400+ to 251-300.
For example, Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands ranked 21st in the world for engineering degrees and 59th in computer science, but this year, its arts and humanities also entered the top 50 and are currently tied for 42nd place.
Not only that, but other science and engineering universities are not included in the list of "technical challengers", but they also perform well in the arts and humanities.
For example, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich ranks 4th in the world in computer science and 9th in the world in engineering degrees.This year, the arts and humanities also made it into the top 50 – rising from 53rd last year to 49th.
We need to be concerned that the performance of these universities is only one aspect of the progress of arts and humanities in science and engineering universities.On the other hand, the top universities in science and engineering, which are well-known in the world, are also ranked high in the arts and humanities.
Specifically, Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranked in the top two in the arts and humanities rankings.Both universities are known for their science and engineering, which is almost universally known.
Why do science and engineering universities value humanities?
At present, worldwide university rankings increasingly attach importance to subject and professional rankings.So why are these universities rising in the arts and humanities?
In my opinion, the reasons behind it can be roughly summarized in the following three points.
First, the school pays attention.It is not difficult to see from the above universities that these science and engineering universities not only have arts and humanities departments, but also have continuous investment.Through the relevant website of the school, people can easily see the importance of these disciplines in various universities.
MIT's understanding of the importance of the humanities and arts in the contemporary world and in the age of advanced technology, for example, is reflected in one data: 100% of its undergraduates must take courses in the humanities and arts.Nearly a quarter of its compulsory courses must be in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
Then there is disciplinary development.At present, people increasingly realize that in order to achieve innovative results, interdisciplinary thinking and research must be carried out through cooperation and communication between different disciplines, focusing on the intersection and integration of literature and science.Moreover, the more important problems, especially those of the world, the more interdisciplinary exchanges and cooperation are needed.
Again, a new profession.As the special needs of the times for talents are becoming more and more extensive, interdisciplinary and interprofessional cooperation is increasingly needed on the issue of talent training.Many new majors, such as humanities medicine, digital humanities, science and technology philosophy, computational linguistics, financial engineering, engineering management, education technology, etc., have been born.
In fact, according to Townsend, director of the Arts, Arts and Culture Program at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, technology-focused universities are expanding their arts and humanities curricula and developing a trend.
Interestingly, the same issue of The Times Higher Education also featured an article co-authored by Leo, interim dean of MIT's School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, who was appointed in June and took office in August.
The so-called STEM, that is, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the initials of the four English letters, refers to the mathematical engineering major in the general sense.In the article, one of Leo and Sakis' main ideas is that, in addition to being vital to solving the world's most pressing problems, the humanities can help students shape successful careers and lead meaningful lives.
The value of humanities cannot be ignored.
Of course, the most important reason why these universities attach importance to the arts and humanities is because of the skills and perspectives of the arts and humanities themselves.In the past and in the present, this value is often overlooked or devalued.
As far as the thoughtfulness of the humanities is concerned, thinking or reflection is its essence and core.On top of the accumulation of long-term extensive reading, carefully observe people and the world, touch the class through geographical thinking, analysis and evaluation, and finally have the ability to think rationally.
In my opinion, the statement that the humanities are ideological, the natural sciences are avant-garde, and the social sciences are actionist is not entirely scientific, but in general it can reflect some of the basic characteristics of each.Of course, thought is essential to any discipline, and only thought can pioneer and act.But for the humanities, thought is not only its spirit, but also its strength and sharpness.
Of course, regardless of the ranking of the arts and humanities mentioned above, or how many scholars emphasize the importance of the arts and humanities, it is not easy to change the prejudice about the uselessness of the humanities.
As Walter, dean of the School of Industrial Design and Engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, says, while she is not entirely convinced that her university has abandoned stereotypes in the arts and humanities, her work is gradually being recognized.She said that many polytechnic universities now recruit a large number of talents with humanities and social sciences backgrounds, and it is their presence that integrates the interdisciplinary work of the entire university.
As Leo and Sakis write, "We encourage students to delve deeper into art, humanities, and design because we want them to think about what's best for living, experience the role of creativity, and understand common human history."We want students to benefit from the practical contributions that the humanities and arts have made to happiness and a better life, which is an important part of MIT education."