Becoming a global citizen: The power of an arts and social sciences degree

Becoming a global citizen: The power of an arts and social sciences degree

Computers may have speed, precision and data on their side, but how about creativity?

Furthering into the fourth industrial revolution, we are witnessing rapid changes to the way we live, work and interact with each other. Automation is replacing human tasks, digitisation is redesigning business and smartphones have infiltrated every aspect of life.

Predicting the four worlds of work in 2030, the latest PwC report states that “Organisations can’t protect jobs which are made redundant by technology – but they do have a responsibility to their people. Protect people not jobs. Nurture agility, adaptability and re-skilling.”

To survive against the tech takeover, it’s crucial for students to hold onto their ‘humanness’. Out-of-the-box thinking, innovation and creativity will be impressive skills to have when applying for future roles that require carrying out tasks that an AI mind can’t comprehend.

According to the report, 73 percent think technology can never replace the human mind, while 60 percent think “few people will have stable, long-term employment in the future.”

As such, those who study human society, social relationships and artistic disciplines are set to thrive – especially in the Yellow World.

A future in which “workers and companies seek out greater meaning and relevance in what they do”, where social-first and community businesses find the greatest success and where artisans, makers and ‘Worker Guilds’ thrive, in the Yellow World, collaboration is key.

To be prepared for this and the other three future worlds, social science students must opt for a school that focuses on graduate employability and offers a dynamic, immersive curriculum.

As creative lifelong learners, social science students graduate with a multitude of potential career paths and opportunities to pursue.

“The future isn’t a fixed destination. Plan for a dynamic rather than a static future. You’ll need to recognise multiple and evolving scenarios. Make ‘no regrets’ moves that work with most scenarios – but you’ll need to make some ‘bets’ too,” notes the report.

So, to prepare for an uncertain future, fuse your talents with an arts and social sciences school that doesn’t confine its graduates to a single career.

Here are 4 universities with progressive arts and social sciences schools…

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (SASS), MONASH UNIVERSITY – MALAYSIA


Strengthening students’ real-world awareness and employability, studying at the School of Arts and Social Sciences (SASS) at Monash Malaysia is an enriching learning experience that successfully readies students for the future worlds of work.

Encouraged to embrace new ways to approach complex questions and get the tools for an exciting career, the Monash SASS integrated curriculum combines academics with work-integrated learning and immersion-focused study trip units.

More than just a degree, the balance between curricular activities and campus life enables students to become creative learners with a social conscience. By mixing a multidisciplinary approach with integrative initiatives, you’ll have the chance to enjoy an international learning experience, to engage in work integrated learning and embark on valuable internships.

By opting for one of the SASS undergraduate degrees, such as the Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences and the Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies, you’ll obtain an internationally-accredited Monash degree recognised by the Malaysian Ministry of Education and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, and quality assured by Monash University Australia and the Australian Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

Supporting agile talent for the jobs of tomorrow, Monash SASS alumni all over the world have gone into diverse fields and occupy multiple perspectives, illuminating the true power of an arts and social sciences degree.

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES (UNSW) – AUSTRALIA


Stemmed from two clusters: the Governance & Global Change Cluster and the Social and Cultural Inquiry Cluster, the School of Social Sciences at UNSW places a strong emphasis on work-integrated learning.

Designed to prepare students for employment in a diverse range of occupations associated with social sciences, UNSW graduates find employment across both public and private sectors.

Contributing their expert opinion and scholarly knowledge to many policy fields, including crime and criminal justice, community and social policy, disability policy and services, indigenous issues, politics and human rights, refugees and migration, gendered violence, international development, peace, conflict and security, academics leave UNSW equipped with an abundance of skills.

Ready for the future worlds of work, the university is committed to rigorous academic analysis and aware of the practical needs of undergraduate and postgraduate study.

So, if you wish to extend your knowledge of Criminology, Development Studies, Politics & International Relations, Social Research & Policy, Social Work or Sociology & Anthropology and pursue your social studies passions, UNSW in Australia is the place to be!

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE – AUSTRALIA


Divided into five departments: Anthropology and Development Studies, Asian Studies, Geography, Environment and Population, Sociology, Criminology and Gender Studies and Politics and International Studies, students at the Adelaide School of Social Sciences have the opportunity to undertake research across a wide range of research areas.

Complete with a bustling, energetic city centre, Adelaide is a diverse and culturally diverse destination for prospective social scientists.

For undergraduate student Arthur Eng Lip Yeow, the Bachelor of Science at Adelaide proposed many advantages.

“I chose to study at the University of Adelaide because of the university’s excellent research culture and focus. I am not only able to enjoy world class education by the professors, but to immerse myself in the research culture even during my undergraduate years. With a strong support system for international students, I can capitalise on the opportunities available here to succeed at university,” Yeow explains.

Welcoming students from all over the world to study social sciences, the University of Adelaide equips learners with the skills to become global citizens and the opportunities to further their studies to a doctorate level, discovering new scientific knowledge for their future career. 

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND – NEW ZEALAND


Ranked 53rd in the world for social sciences in the QS World University Rankings for 2019, the School of Social Sciences at the University of Auckland is home to anthropology, communication, criminology, media, film and television, politics and international relations, public policy, screen production and sociology studies.

The ideal base for future-focused social scientists, Auckland social science students graduate with a credible degree and a willingness to innovate.

Working to understand, inform and creatively respond to interactions between authorities, individuals, communities, technologies and the environment, the school’s research examines power dynamics in past and present human relations, often in pursuit of social justice.

“We are excited to make a difference in your education by sharing with you our knowledge and expertise through our innovative courses and research supervision. Our dedicated and highly reputed staff include specialists engaged with research, creative projects, and teaching in New Zealand and around the world,” the school states.

Ready to make a difference? Get in touch with the University of Auckland today and strategise your social study venture in New Zealand!

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International

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