Transformation of the humanities and social sciences the focus of the Federation’s annual meeting

By Natalie Samson. It seems every week brings a new batch of articles and op-eds either preaching or questioning the value of liberal arts education. We’re only half-way through this week and already The Globe and Mail has published both a defense of the liberal arts and a take-down of an entire field of humanistic study. Innovations in digital technology, an uncertain job market and a trend towards thinking of higher education in economic terms have put pressure on the humanities and social sciences to prove their continued relevance. It’s a climate the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences chose to meet head-on at its annual meeting last Friday. More...