Humanities Education for the Engineer of the Future

The requirements of Industry 5.0, based on the pillars of sustainability, resilience, and human-centeredness, necessitate a fundamental redefinition of the traditional role of the engineer. In response to these challenges, a key report for AGH University of Science and Technology (Poland) presents the profile of the “technological humanist” as the only effective response, integrating advanced technical competencies with profound social and ethical awareness. Network analysis identified three universal competencies as the absolute foundation of this profile: systems thinking, cross-species problem-solving, and the application of global engineering ethics. The article argues that a humanities education is an essential mechanism for cultivating these competencies. It provides a “moral compass” and holistic understanding, allowing engineers to answer not only the question of “how” to build something, but also, and more importantly, “whether” and “why”. In this way, a human-centered and sustainable future for industry is only achievable by embedding humanities at the heart of engineering practice.