Artsci launches the 2023-24 New World of Work Series with Bruce Miyashita (’84)

How might interdisciplinary education help university students prepare for and navigate the world of work? What might life look like after Artsci? These were among the topics discussed by Arts & Science students and alumnus Bruce Miyashita (1984) at the first event held as part of the 2023/24 New World of Work Series.

As he engaged with Artsci students of all levels at this special event, Bruce highlighted the importance of developing a range of transferable skills, such as writing, critical reasoning, communication, and analytical cross-disciplinary thinking, to thrive in a variety of careers and workplaces. Drawing on his rich and wide-ranging career, and on his experiences as one of the first graduates of McMaster’s Arts & Science Program, he offered invaluable advice, insight, and encouragement to attendees.

Bruce has emphasized the increasing need for the kind of interdisciplinary thinking fostered by Artsci within the world of work, as well the benefit of bringing some of the tools of business to other sectors (see his introductory remarks from the 2020 New World of Work Forum). Indeed, these convictions were part of what encouraged him to make the generous gift that established the Tom & Nancy Miyashita Arts & Science Program Enrichment Fund (named in honour of his parents). This gift currently supports the New World of Work Series – a unique opportunity for Arts & Science students to explore emerging themes in the rapidly changing world of work and to take up topics relevant to work in the contemporary moment from a variety of perspectives.

“We continue to be exceedingly grateful to Bruce for his generous and ongoing contributions to the Arts & Science community of learning,” says Arts & Science Program Director Dr. Beth Marquis. “It was so wonderful to have him kick off this year’s New World of Work Series. The opportunity to receive firsthand guidance and support from such an accomplished, insightful, and approachable mentor is a very special thing.”

The next event in the New World of Work Series will take place in the Winter 2024 academic term.