Exploring Career Pathways in the Humanities and Social-Science: Challenges and Prospects of North-East India

Humanities and social science degree can be vastly different, but all have one thing in common; they are focused on human life. While humanities subjects are mostly analytical or philosophical and social sciences subjects are more scientific and experimental. Reasons to study humanities and social sciences- 1) Become an adaptable graduate, 2) Flexible degree options, 3) Important for future societies. The various disciplines of humanities and social sciences which are helpful for students- Anthropology, Communication and Media Studies, Criminology, Education, Film-Studies, International Development, Law Politics, Psychology, Sociology etc. Career in humanities and social-sciences:- career as a/an Assistant administrative Officer, Agricultural Journalism, Content writers/ Editors, Development Programme Officer, Club Disc Jockey, Sociology, Geography, NGO, Liberal Arts, Lectureship, Anthropology, Archaeology, Law, Library Science, Psychology, Research Assistant, Teaching , Fine Arts etc. This paper highlights the crucial role that study in the humanities and social sciences can and should lay in policy making, business, innovation etc. This paper also identifies the challenges faced by students, researchers in the humanities and social sciences and these include the continued marginalization of such research compared with research in the natural sciences discipline, the relegation of humanities and social sciences theory and methodology, the lack of funding of research, the lack of time for researchers due to increased teaching loads and the lack of time for students due to increased study loads and administration. Opportunities have been identified that can be seized to make study visible by ensuring that it answers the needs of society and policy makers and that there is more collaboration, partnership and inter disciplinary study. Every generation faces some challenges, problems and prospects to engage with the past and to cope with the present, while building its future. However the questions and problems inherent in human life remain the same.