Welcome from the Dean

We here in the UTS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) work in close collaboration with our partners to pursue our vision of developing resilient, critical, creative thinkers who are equipped for robust intellectual inquiry and rigorous engagement with our complex and challenging socio-political world. I am thrilled and inspired by the work we do to develop graduates who will demonstrate a high tolerance for ambiguity, question dominant orthodoxies, and champion authentic social and cultural debate in the interest of the public good within a rapidly-shifting, technology-driven world. 
 
I’m proud of our team of academics, professional staff, students, alumni and researchers. Working across a range of traditional and emerging disciplines, we bring thought- leadership and a critical voice to enable us to best address important sociocultural issues. This includes challenging the status quo, driving an increased integration of humanities, arts and social sciences with STEM; and embedding innovation, digital disruption and creativity at the core of our research, teaching and engagement. 

Being passionate and committed, leading sector experts, we are well placed to broker interdisciplinary collaboration across the University, helping us to develop graduates with complementary skills such as science, technology, engineering and maths educators or business leaders who understand the different dimensions of critical challenges of our time, such as sustainability. 

It is our strong connections to industry that ensure our curriculum provides practical experiences through work-integrated learning in internships and placements, guest lectures from industry leaders, short courses facilitated by sector professionals, and more. Our students engage with the tools and technologies of their future workplaces and gain critical knowledge, insights, and work-ready skills to succeed in their careers and to bring immediate value to employers and host organisations. 

We recognise the growing needs and challenges of the dynamic contemporary workplace where learning is a lifelong practice. Through consultation and co-design with industry, we develop undergraduate and postgraduate programs, short courses and enterprise learning that keep pace with rapidly changing job markets. This helps us address skills needs, and provides both individuals and organisations with ongoing opportunities to enhance their professional capabilities and capacity to effect meaningful change. 

I’m also excited and so proud to see our acclaimed academics continuously engaging in research that is genuinely impactful, interdisciplinary, and focussed on practical solutions to real-world problems, with centres and concentrations including Indigenous Land and Justice, Governmental Communication, Learning in a Technological Society, Climate Justice and Social Science of Fisheries. 
 
Joining the FASS community also means you will be part of an open, flexible and vibrant international network. We have a global outlook, embedding transcultural perspectives and international experiences in our curriculum, which we see evidenced by many of our alumni who are forging successful careers around the world. 

I warmly invite you to explore, connect and engage with our outstanding staff and high-quality, innovative programs. 

Alan Davison
Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences