Many of the challenges affecting quality of life can be addressed by continued and increased investment in humanities and social science research, according to a new report from the Royal Irish Academy (RIA).
The report comes amid increasing concern that arts and humanities are being downgraded at third-level as colleges focus on the battle for science research funding.
In recent months, there has been controversy about plans to downgrade drama and women's studies at Trinity and NUI Galway respectively.
The report says humanities and social sciences are "central to our cultural and intellectual life: they help us to understand our past and by doing so, give us a clearer sense of direction as we plan for the future."
Among the key recommendations of the report are;
• A national foresight exercise to identify and enable the best conditions necessary for the development of research in the humanities and social sciences;
• establish a stakeholders' forum to oversee the establishment of a national policy on the humanities and social sciences and support continued investment in digital infrastructures;
• provide targeted funding to support strategic humanities and social science research areas at a national level.
The report, Advancing Humanities and Social Sciences Research in Ireland, identifies key areas where significant investment in is needed urgently, so researchers can successfully produce world-class research and compete for funding internationally.
The Government's Expert Group on Future Skills Needs has proposed increasing the number of school leavers entering third-level by 15 per cent by 2020.
If current trends in third-level course enrolment continue, close to 60 per cent of these entrants will choose humanities and social science-based courses.
