In a world facing complex and interrelated challenges—such as climate change, poverty, accelerated disruption from new technologies, migration, and international conflict—the social sciences play a fundamental, though often undervalued, role in the search for sustainable solutions.

Faced with this challenge, ten leading European universities in the social sciences are joining forces in CIVICA to discuss the need for interdisciplinary education that integrates the skills of the natural sciences with those of the social sciences.

The human being at the center

Compared to the natural sciences, which deal with the physical world, the social sciences offer a human-centered perspective. This humanistic perspective is key when addressing global issues that are deeply rooted in human behavior and belief systems .

Whether we’re talking about consumer habits that contribute to climate change or the social structures that perpetuate poverty and inequality, understanding the causes of our behavior is a prerequisite for achieving change. This can be achieved, for example, through behavioral economics developed by American psychologist Daniel Kahneman.

By integrating the perspectives of the natural and social sciences, it is possible to undertake global initiatives that, while avoiding uniform approaches, provide inclusive and fair solutions .

Promoting innovation

The world’s problems are complex and multidimensional. Therefore, their resolution cannot come from a single discipline. If finding solutions requires interdisciplinary participation , it is precisely in this aspect that higher education institutions can play a central role, as they offer a space for collaboration across diverse fields of study.

By promoting interdisciplinary teaching and research, universities foster a quest for innovation that articulates technical, social, economic, and cultural dimensions. Universities also often act as bridges between different stakeholders, uniting academia, industry, government, and civil society. These partnerships amplify the real-world impact of research and education.

What should we teach future generations?

As centers for knowledge generation, innovation, and leadership development, universities are not merely observers of the problems facing the world. Rather, they are key players in the search for solutions and, moreover, play a decisive role in training the next generation of leaders.

Through education, students not only acquire technical knowledge but also develop critical thinking, ethical awareness, and a global perspective. An interdisciplinary education that integrates the competencies of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with those of the social sciences, humanities, arts, and economics (SHAPE) to address global challenges in all their complexity.

Understanding the human condition

The world’s most pressing problems cannot be solved solely through technology or science. They also require an understanding of the human condition—that is, the motivations, institutions, cultures, and relationships that define us.

The social sciences and humanities provide this vision and offer the tools necessary to understand and transform global challenges, placing human behavior and social systems at the center of the solution. This is how societal change is driven.

As the scale and urgency of the world’s problems increase, so must the ambition, responsibility, and relevance of universities.

Author Bio: María Eugenia Marín is Vice President for Global Academic Partnerships and Collaborations, Associate Professor at IE University