Research commissioned by the British Council reveals that international development agency employers see a humanities education as a significant advantage in the delivery of programs addressing social, economic or public health challenges around the world.

The value of the humanities – a diverse group of academic disciplines broadly defined as the study of human culture – can sometimes be overshadowed by breakthroughs in science and technology.

The study was carried out for the British Council by Ipsos from January to March 2014, with the full report, literature review, attributed quotes and infographic released this week. The research shows that the humanities are valued by development agencies and organizations for the skills and attributes they cultivate. 

“I have seen good technical professionals fail because of the lack of sensitivity or awareness of local languages, cultures, history, philosophy, or religion.”

- Loren Schulze, HR Manager, Mendez England

Extensive interviews with senior leaders, HR managers and program officers at 19 top international development organizations, donor agencies and NGOs revealed that humanities graduates are seen to have important skills that complement the scientific and technical expertise needed for development projects.

Study participants felt that a humanities education helped people navigate complex relationships, deal with administrative, regulatory and geographical barriers, and understand local cultural contexts – all of which are essential for the successful delivery of development programs.

"When I was working on our Russia program, the fact that I was familiar with the country’s literature allowed me to understand a little bit better some of the references and some of the deeper things that are going on. The poetry and novels inform people’s cultural context and it comes up in discussions."

- Program Director

People with humanities degrees were also reported to be more likely to serve in leadership roles on the design and delivery of development interventions. Some of those interviewed said that a humanities education was less about gaining a body of knowledge, and more about acquiring an adaptable set of skills. These skills were seen as most useful when combined with international experience, especially for recent graduates. 

Paul Smith, Director of the British Council in the US, said: “These findings confirm the intrinsic value of the humanities in contributing to the solutions of some of the greatest developmental challenges that exist in the world today. In many ways this validates the notion that no global issue can be fully understood, let alone resolved, without real evidence of how the local community and the rest of humanity are experiencing it.”

The full report Mobilizing the Humanities: The Development Perspective is available here: http://www.britishcouncil.us/programmes/education/higher/policy-dialogue/research-reports