UCL Enquiry on A Case for the Humanities

An academic enquiry considering, and setting out to articulate and celebrate, the value of the Humanities.

The Humanities delve into fundamental questions about human existence. Their scope is as expansive and intricate as humanity itself, encompassing the study of cultures, values, ideas, beliefs, and systems of thought, traced back to the earliest human activities.

Despite being at the heart of institutions of learning since ancient times, the Humanities are currently at risk. Numerous UK universities have cut or closed Humanities departments, resulting in the loss of academic positions. 

In this context, the UCL Enquiry on A Case for the Humanities worked from 2020 to 2023 to explore and articulate the value of the Humanities. The Enquiry gathered reflections and insights from more than fifty academics drawn from all UCL's faculties, who were invited to question and consider, rather than to define or adjudicate. The Enquiry’s focus was on asking questions: it was not a process designed to yield a specific, single answer. 

The report offers the following key insights:

1. Interdisciplinarity: Humanities should not be viewed in opposition to the Sciences. Both fields have unique methodologies and can benefit from collaboration. Interdisciplinary research that includes Humanities perspectives enriches scientific and technological advancements, providing ethical, cultural, and historical contexts.
2. Use and Value: The Humanities must combat outdated notions that prioritise financial measures over broader societal benefits. There is a need to reframe the narrative around the Humanities, emphasising their role in fostering a more inclusive, thoughtful, and resilient society.
3. Confronting the Grand Challenges: The Humanities equip individuals with critical thinking, empathy, and creativity, essential for addressing global challenges such as climate change, political polarisation, and technological disruption.

What now? 

The Enquiry identified three principal areas for action:

1. Raising Awareness: Increasing understanding of the Humanities' value across society.
2. Empowerment: Equipping individuals and institutions with arguments and evidence to champion the Humanities. 
3. Proposals to UCL: Developing specific proposals to integrate the Humanities into broader institutional strategies.