Humanities departments(人文院系)in America are once again being cut down. Earlier this month, the State University of New York(SUNY)StonyBrook announced a plan to abandon several of the college’s well-known departments for lack of fund. The University of Pittsburgh has cut its German and classics. 【小题1】In the UK, Middlesex University decided to gradually get rid of philosophy department. In June 2015, the Japanese minister of education sent a letter to the presidents of the national universities of Japan, suggesting they close their graduate and undergraduate departments in the humanities and social sciences and focus on something more practical.

These are hard times. Instead of Shakespeare or French, there will be(perhaps there already are)college classes in how to cut corporate spending. 【小题2】But the only opportunity has been lost if they are denied the opportunity to study foreign languages, the classics, literature, philosophy, music, theater and art in the university. When else in their busy lives will they get that chance?

【小题3】. Essays explain why we need these subjects, and what their loss will mean. These areas of learning provide us with the ability to think critically and independently; to see both sides of an issue;to look beneath the surface of what we are being told; to appreciate the ways in which language can help us understand one another more clearly.

I don’t believe that the humanities can make you a decent person. 【小题4】. Studying philosophy teaches us about those who have gone before us. A foreign language brings us closer to those with whom we share the planet. The humanities touch those aspects of awareness that we call intellect and heart. 【小题5】

In a recent announcement, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology（MIT）said that they have joined forces to offer free online courses in an effort to attract millions of online learners worldwide.

Beginning this fall, a number of courses developed by teachers at both universities will be offered online through a new $60 million program, known as edX. “Anyone with an Internet connection anywhere in the world can use our online courses,” Harvard President Drew Faust said during a meeting to announce the plan.

MIT has offered a program called OpenCourseWare for ten years that makes materials from more than 2,000 classes free online. It has been used by more than 100 million people. In December, the school announced it also would begin offering a special certificate, known as MITx, for people who complete certain online courses. Harvard has long offered courses to a wider population through a similar program.

The MITx will serve as the foundation for the new learning platform.

MIT President Susan Hockfield said more than 120,000 people signed up for the first MITx course. She said Harvard and MIT hope other universities will join them in offering courses on the open-source edX platform.

“Fasten your seatbelts,” Hockfield said.

Other universities, including Stanford, Yale and Carnegie-Mellon, have been experimenting with teaching to a global population online.

The Harvard-MIT program will be monitored by a not-for-profit（非盈利的）organization based in Cambridge, to be owned equally by the two universities. Both MIT and Harvard have provided $30 million to start the program. They also plan to use the edX platform to research how students learn and which teaching methods and tools are most successful.

NEBOSH IGC

It is a known fact that gas and mining companies tend to encounter evident risks such as fire and chemical exposure. However, this does not mean that other industries are free of health and safety risks. Even those regarded as safe workplaces such as those in IT and education fields can threaten the health and safety of employees. For example, using a computer for more hours than normal can cause muscle problems, spinal cord（脊髓）issues, and tiredness. On the other hand, the employees in the business sector can face tremendous stress ——the modem main cause of several physical and psychological disorders. These facts prove that health and safety dangers exist in any industry. Therefore, it is vital to train the employees in occupational health and safety.

One such course that is designed for the workers of all industries is the NEBOSH IGC in Rawalpindi, Islamabad. Designed by the NEBOSH or National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health, the course has become the UK's criterion for health and safety measures. It is suitable for all professionals who need a fundamental understanding of safety and health concerns. A professional can choose to take this course either via an instructor-led classroom or via online e-Learning modules.

Classroom training is best for those who prefer face-to-face interaction for learning as well as for getting instant feedback from the instructors. These are the people who learn more effectively in the presence of a teacher.

However, most professionals are choosing the online e-Learning course for gaining the NEBOSH IGC in Islamabad, as it has proved more effective and convenient The biggest benefit of online learning is that it is the most flexible way to learn at any time and from anywhere, something that today's busy professionals can do despite their busy schedules.

Another benefit is that the online course is backed by 24/7 support. This helps you to get the desired assistance as well as feedback from online instructors even late at night or early in the morning. Further, because you can access the modules anytime through the Internet, the training happens at your own pace, which is required for effective learning. If you decide to take advantage of the training online, you can expect to invest around 75-80 hours in learning. There is truly no need to join a class or any institution for taking NEBOSH training courses in Rawalpindi, Islamabad. The online NEBOSH courses help you save time and energy while effectively learning the work-related health and safety basics.