Humanities courses lead to career success!

My first degree is in English and History from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. My parents, who are nor highly educated, never asked me a single on question on my career prospect from Arts degree. Unlike most of my friends whom parents are business people, doctor or engineer, they were expected by their parents to follow the traditional career path. I am glad my parent let me study arts and humanities.

A piece from Times Higher Education by Jack Grove confirms my belief that Arts is a good degree!
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Sixty per cent of leading public figures in the UK have humanities, social science or arts degrees, a new study has found.


A report commissioned by the New College of the Humanities (NCH) found the subjects had been studied by the majority of those “at the top of their professions” – such as CEOs of FTSE 100 companies, bosses of top creative and financial companies, vice-chancellors of Russell Group universities and MPs.


Starting in September 2012, the privately-owned for-profit NCH will charge £18,000 a year for degrees in five subject areas: law, economics, history, English literature and philosophy.


Based in Bloomsbury, the college will be headed by A.C. Grayling, who year resigned from his post as professor of philosophy at Birkbeck, University of London earlier this year.


Dr Grayling said: “For service economies in the developed world, a broad educational background is essential.


“Much of the talent that goes into law, journalism, the civil service, politics, financial services, the creative industries, publishing, education, and much besides, is drawn from people who have studied the humanities.


“Our society and economy needs broadly educated people, who have gained a wider view of the world and human affairs – of how to think about them, understand them, and apply the lessons thus learned.”


But he added: “Our fear is that humanities provision is being diminished.

“It is wrong to think that humanities matter less, or offer fewer career opportunities than science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“Many bright young people could benefit enormously from them.”



From 2012, the publicly-funded teaching grant for arts, social sciences and humanities subjects will be scrapped, with the annual costs of up to £9,000 repaid by graduates.

A reduced teaching grant will be available only for clinical subjects and some science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.


The NCH report found 65 per cent of MPs studied an arts, humanities or social sciences
discipline, compared with just over 10 per cent who studied STEM disciplines.


But only around 30 per cent of vice-chancellors of Russell Group universities came from an arts, humanities or social sciences background, compared to 65 per cent who had studied STEM subjects.

the author can be contacted at: jack.grove@tsleducation.com

Prof. Paul Greenfield will step down from his role as chair of the Group of Eight

The Group of Eight announced the change early Friday evening, shortly
after Greenfield told UQ staff and alumni that he would be leaving
his position on December 16 instead of mid-next year.


"The Group of Eight secretariat is saddened by the news that
Professor Paul Greenfield is stepping down as Vice-Chancellor of The
University of Queensland and Go8 Chair," said a spokesman in a
statement.

"He has been a skilful and trusted leader of the Go8. The University
of Queensland has reached new heights through his direction and
drive. Those of us who have known him over many years have nothing
but admiration for his intellectual power, integrity and grace."

Greenfield is leaving following revelations an irregularity
surrounding the admission of a close relative into a medical degree.
It is believed the relative did not achieve the required
Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admissions Test score but
was allowed into the program anyway. Greenfield had already planned
to retire from the university in the middle of next year.

"In recent weeks, it has become increasingly difficult for me to
serve as vice-chancellor in the way this organisation and its
partners deserve. In addition, the ongoing pressure on my family and
the University is taking a toll, the level of which I am not prepared
to accept. As a consequence, I have decided to step down as
vice-chancellor of UQ from December 16, 2011, and depart the
university on January 13, 2012. This decision is mine, and has been
accepted by Senate," he wrote.

"Between now and January, I will work to ensure a smooth transition
to Professor Debbie Terry who will act in the VC role until a new
appointment is confirmed."

Terry, in her own letter, paid tribute to Greenfield and outgoing
senior deputy vice-chancellor Professor Michael Keniger, who is also
leaving the university on December 16.

"Under their leadership over the past four years, the university has
gone from strength to strength, performing exceptionally well in all
areas. I know that you will all join me in thanking Paul and Michael
for their many contributions and wishing them all the very best for
the future."

The work of RMIT and multinational corporation in promoting international education

In Laos where the majority of citizens are poor, obtaining an overseas education qualification and experiences seem to be just a dream. Part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) by a multinational corporation called MMG seems to be an interesting initiative. I have received this news from my colleagues from RMIT and need to share it with the reader of my blog. Why? Simply because the project show case a strong link of industry and an international education provider.

Base metals mining company MMG is pleased to announce the graduation of 37 Lao community members in Certificate III qualifications from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT).

The community members are part of a program established by MMG and RMIT to provide skills to community members living around the Sepon copper and gold mine in the Savannakhet Province, Laos.

The program aims to increase the skill level of local community members and their capacity to undertake skilled jobs on site. It is part of MMG’s ongoing commitment to the sustainable development of the mine’s local community.

The graduates received the qualification in one of seven trades - carpentry, fabrication, refrigeration, mechanics, electrics, automotive or instrumentation – following four years of studies and at least one year of on-the-job training at the Sepon mine. The qualification is equivalent to that undertaken by apprentices in Australia.

The study component of the program included an annual 28-day intensive training course, run by RMIT trainers at the purpose-built Trades Training Workshop facility on site. The on-the-job training element involved working alongside, and being mentored by, maintenance supervisors and tradespersons. Successful graduates have all secured employment at the mine.

BounGneun Phonenavongdeuane, from Vilabouly District, gained her certificate in refrigeration and will work with the mine’s maintenance department. She said that graduating with a high qualification was very important for her.

“It will bring many changes for my future, especially related to my performance in the job I do,” she said.

Fellow graduate Viengkham Maphangvong, also from Vilabouly District, trained as a carpenter.

“I was very proud to be one of the local community members selected to join this high-standard study program. I would like to thank the company for providing an excellent training scheme for local people,” he said.

The achievements of the apprentices were recognised at a graduation ceremony that took place at the mine on 24 November. It was attended by family members of the graduates as well as local officials, company employees and representatives from RMIT.

The partnership between the Sepon mine and RMIT has been in place since 2006, with the first 16 apprentices and employees graduating last year.