In a world where creativity is the #1 skill sought by employers (World Economic Forum, 2023), one new university is taking that challenge seriously. The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) is pioneering a fresh approach to higher education by breaking down barriers between disciplines and the real world.
Founded in 2017, LIS opened its doors in 2021 as the first UK university in decades to grant degree-awarding powers from inception. Its mission? To prepare students for the complex, interconnected problems of today—from climate change to AI ethics—through a curriculum built entirely around real-world challenges.
Students at LIS don’t just study traditional subjects. They engage in “problem modules” that integrate methods like data science, ethnography, and narrative storytelling. Instead of lectures, LIS promotes a “prep culture” for interactive, project-based learning—complete with paid internships, consultancy reports, and video essays.
Co-founder Carl Gombrich, a physicist, philosopher, and musician, brings a unique vision of creativity and polymathy. He believes education should cultivate the kind of “transformational creativity” needed for deep innovation—and LIS is designed to do just that.
As graduates move into careers at Goldman Sachs, KPMG, or doctoral programs at Cambridge, LIS is showing how an education grounded in synthesis, creativity, and interdisciplinary thinking can equip students to shape—not just survive—the future. Read more about the LIS at my new article on Forbes.com at https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanpenprase/2025/04/11/synthesis-and-creativity-at-the-london-interdisciplinary-school/