Photograph: GettyRecent coverage of the future of arts programmes in Irish universities has sparked renewed debate about whether these degrees have a value. Last week’s coverage of proposed changes to arts education at the University of Galway has been interpreted as a story about falling demand. Arts and humanities programmes have been chronically underfunded while the policy signals have favoured the sciences and technology for years. Arts and humanities graduates have shaped Irish public life in countless ways. An arts education also directly contributes to the cultural success Ireland so often celebrates internationally, from Booker Prizes and Pulitzers to BAFTAs, Tonys and Oscars.

Source: The Irish Times March 05, 2026 07:31 UTC