You’ve entitled your talk ‘Becoming the Modern Renaissance Person – could you please elaborate more on your choice of terminology and how this shapes the scope of your talk?
The ‘Modern Renaissance Person’ (or MRP, for ease) reimagines the traditional ‘Renaissance Man’ in the context of our hyper-specialised world today. I chose this term because it serves as a powerful umbrella for identities like multi-passionates, polymaths, generalists, jacks of all trades, multipotentialites, and interdisciplinarians.
I intentionally used the word ‘Becoming’ to convey the idea that embodying the MRP identity – at both the individual and societal levels – is not a fixed destination, but a gradual and continuous process. If complete mastery in a single field is the end goal of a specialist, then what is it for an MRP? Is there even one?
Perhaps we can say that the ideal MRP is someone who strategically explores complementary fields, deciding the level of depth needed to drive innovation and efficiency in their core specialisation(s).
The title sets the tone for the talk, which weaves together my personal story with a call to action for like-minded students and professionals to embrace this mindset of becoming the MRP. It is about reclaiming multidisciplinary curiosity in a world that often rewards intellectual siloes instead.
The MINT Programme emphasises becoming a generalist of a specific kind, how do you find that the programme’s values have helped shape your professional and personal growth?
The MINT Programme embodies the very essence of the Modern Renaissance Person. It applies the concept of the “T-shaped skill set”, which refers to one’s deep expertise in one area (the vertical line of the T), combined with their broad knowledge and ability to bridge related fields (the horizontal line).
The MINT curriculum is structured in a way that allows students to commit to a specialisation while actively encouraging academic exploration beyond it. That balance between depth and breadth of knowledge is rare in Master’s programmes, and it offers the ideal environment to nurture both intellectual versatility and professional focus.
In these past two years, the MINT Programme has helped me not only identify my area of specialisation but also explore all the complementary fields that directly (and even indirectly) influence it. I studied several streams of study such as international human rights and humanitarian law, conflict resolution, humanitarian and development programming, and violent extremism, all of which contributed to my academic growth.
My MINT experience has further solidified my T-shaped skill set, transforming my various interests into intentional and purpose-driven choices rather than scattered curiosities. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing how I apply this skill set in my personal and professional journey.
You mention embracing multiple academic interests in your childhood. Did you find this was an aspect that you were allowed to further explore as an adult and at the Institute?
Absolutely. The fast-paced, specialised environment we live in, often pulls us away from the wide-eyed curiosity we had as children. Over time, we’re pushed towards picking one path and sticking to it. Even though I always valued my diverse interests, I had felt that passion starting to fade due to societal expectations.
Joining the Institute reignited that spark, thanks to the academic environment designed to encourage and nourish interdisciplinarity among students. Through diverse courses and workshops, especially those that complimented my specialisation in Human Rights and Humanitarianism, I was able to deepen my focus while also studying its intersections with other fields.
The MINT Programme actively supports the cultivation of the MRP mindset, and I hope the curriculum continues to evolve in ways that nurture the curiosity of our interdisciplinary student body.
Was there a specific experience during your Masters that you felt allowed you to continue to explore multiple pathways and embrace being a jack of all trades?
Rather than a specific experience, it was my interactions with the people – both professors and students – that have most shaped my time at the Institute. At a time when I started to narrow down my academic focus, the MINT Programme’s interdisciplinary culture helped me stay connected to that broader identity.
Professors often strategically draw on multiple fields when planning and delivering their courses, especially given that most MINT students come from such diverse academic and professional backgrounds. Class discussions, group study sessions, office hours, coffee breaks, and even the occasional apéros, have created opportunities for a kind of intellectual cross-pollination that meaningfully contributes to our personal, academic, and professional growth.
Whether you want to call it the Modern Renaissance Person or something else, many of us in the MINT Programme are driven towards applying the interdisciplinary experience we have gained here in our professional lives. I am truly grateful for the tools, space, and community that have helped me value this identity again.