Kathrine Skretting
(Department of Art and Media Studies, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway)

 

Abstract: This article comments on the discussion on the humanities, mainly by looking at the strategies of Arizona State University in the US, Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, in Norway. The three strategies are reviewed on the background of important trends in university education: competition for staff and students, a call for relevance from society, but also from the students, and the strengthened position of science and technology. Aims and ambitions for education and research at the three universities have much in common. All of them focus on interdisciplinary work, both in education and research. But there are also important differences. ASU has a strongpoint in collaborations with their surrounding community, UU most consequently seek excellence, and NTNU is meeting the call for relevance. The article gives some concrete examples on how the humanities actually are performed at state universities of today. No crisis is spotted, but a need for changes or adjustments is argued.

 

 

Key words: university governance, humanities, university policies, the value of humanities, liberal arts, education, university strategies