“What is the future of the social sciences and humanities?” was the title of a panel at the XXXI Economic Forum in Karpacz, organised by Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University (UKSW) in Warsaw.

The discussion was attended by the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education at UKSW, Dr Anna Fidelus, Professor at UKSW, who stated that the social sciences and humanities should teach students empathy, openness to those in need in times of rapid demographic change, climate crisis and armed conflict.

The panel chaired by Dr Bartosz Rydliński from the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences at UKSW also raised questions about the negative effect of the marketisation of the social sciences and humanities and the need for greater investment in science and higher education, including staff salaries.

Other panellists included Deputy Minister of Education and Science Prof. Włodzimierz Bernacki, Dr Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, New Left MP, Dr Frank Babinger, Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor for Employment and Entrepreneurship at the Complutense University of Madrid, and Aneta Trojanowska, Vice President of the Council for Higher Education and Science.