Educating for Complexity: The Case for Interdisciplinary Learning - Featuring Prof. Carl Gombrich, Dean of the London Interdisciplinary School

What makes an education focused Business Management academic and what is the significance of this role?

What happens when you challenge centuries-old traditions in higher education? In this episode, we hear the compelling story behind the London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) — a university built from the ground up to rethink how we educate for a complex world.

From the inspiration behind its founding to the hurdles faced in pushing against the boundaries of traditional academia to prepare students to tackle global challenges head-on, our guest shares what it takes to build an institution that puts real-world impact and interdisciplinary thinking at its core.

We explore why interdisciplinary learning is more than a teaching method — it’s a response to the world’s toughest challenges. You’ll hear how LIS connects theory with action, empowering students to work on live problems from industry, government, and society.

Plus, we tackle a big question: Is this the future of higher education? With momentum growing, we ask what needs to change for other universities to embrace a more connected, flexible, and problem-led approach to learning.

Professor Carl Gombrich, is the Dean of and the dynamic force behind The London Interdisciplinary School. With a diverse background spanning mathematics, physics, philosophy, and even professional opera singing. As a professorial teaching fellow at University College London, he spearheaded the UK’s inaugural Bachelor in Arts and Sciences degree, showcasing his dedication to fostering versatile minds.

Renowned for his captivating keynote addresses on topics like interdisciplinary education and the future of talent, Carl’s expertise has earned him a prestigious place in the British Academy Working Group on Interdisciplinarity. He’s also a core panel member at the Accreditation Organisation of Netherland and Flanders (NVAO).