Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has launched the Arts and Humanities Research Platform to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in these fields. Awam Amkpa, Dean of Arts and Humanities at NYUAD, described the initiative as a catalyst for intellectual growth.
“The Arts and Humanities Research Platform is a consolidated space that examines the relationship between various disciplines within the arts and humanities,” Amkpa told Aletihad on Monday, during an open day hosted by NYUAD's Arts and Humanities Research Platform.
“It looks at how research activities can impact social organisations - how we can measure those impacts, and how they can shape development strategies.”
For Amkpa, the arts are not separate from the humanities but are seen as an applied form of scholarship that has tangible effects on society.
“We believe the traditional humanities, focused on understanding human communities, are essential to the development of ideas that shape innovation,” he said.
NYUAD's Arts and Humanities Research Platform serves as a hub for research centres, small research labs, and faculty-driven initiatives, according to Amkpa.
“The NYUAD’s Arts and Humanities Research Platform is designed to align closely with NYUAD’s academic strategy, facilitating research and fostering a vibrant scholarly community,” Alexandra Sandu, the Arts and Humanities Research Platform Director told Aletihad.
“The platform promotes research and scholarly exchange across various fields, especially supporting activities that transcend disciplinary boundaries. This interdisciplinary approach enhances collaboration and innovation, making research more impactful,” she said.
Amkpa delved into the unique role the humanities play in understanding complex global challenges, such as inequality, technological disruption, and cultural identity.
“The humanities are at the epicentre of any kind of global innovation,” he said.
“They draw our attention to what’s not working in the world and make us conscious of the injustices and inequalities that exist. Our scholarship is designed to project how human communities can co-exist, and in that co-existence, address issues of inequality, justice, and inclusion.”
One of the unique aspects of the Arts and Humanities Research Platform is its global perspective. Amkpa noted that NYUAD draws from a vast array of educational cultures, with faculty from nearly 100 countries and students representing over 150 nations.
Amkpa believes this global perspective is important in shaping research that not only answers today’s questions but anticipates the challenges of the future.
“The diversity of our students and faculty is what puts us together,” he said. “We’re working to create a space where we can ask big questions about humanity and use our collective expertise to generate new knowledge that will have a real-world impact.”
