The article I chose is called “Why Arts Degrees and Other Generalist Programs are the Future of Australian higher education”. The article challenges the notion that generalist degrees, like a Bachelor of Arts, are inferior to specific qualifications, and the assumption that said degrees lead to joblessness. It highlights how arts degrees lead to jobs, citing research showing an increase in employment among humanities and social science graduates. The traditional idea of “vocations” is deemed outdated, with modern employers valuing problem-solving, digital skills, and adaptability over specific training for one career. In light of global uncertainties like the pandemic, climate change, and technological advancements, there’s a call to redefine “employability” and prepare graduates with adaptable mindsets and transferable skills. The article proposes a shift towards valuing generalist degrees, suggesting they equip students with critical skills like argumentation, emotional intelligence, and teamwork. The power of this article comes in the way of its forward-thinking and reasoning. I completely agree that the humanities are often undervalued and that we need to redefine outdated terms such as “employability” because due to advances in technology and the internet, there are thousands of jobs that exist now that didn’t 20 years ago. Back then and somewhat still today the market and “key to success” demands to become a lawyer, doctor, executive, or some other drone position at a giant conglomerate, with the unorthodox jobs being pushed aside.
Journal # 5
A huge strength of this proposal is the author’s ability to discuss their personal growth and challenges, as well as their integration of said growth into the proposal. The thesis project is framed as a culmination of the author’s learning journey in liberal studies as a discipline, providing an opportunity to apply acquired knowledge and skills to a challenging endeavor. It serves as a test of the author’s ability to engage with complex philosophical concepts independently. I like how the author formats the general layout of the proposal as well, keeping it organized thematically but also including a lot of different points. From a personal standpoint, I hope to show my growth as a designer with my capstone presentation and think that a variety of tools from this proposal could be utilized for inspiration in my project.
