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Notes from a discussion

Meeting to discuss a possible new joint venture / project on 19th May 2026

  • N.B. von Humboldt's (1810) memorandum mooted the creation of a new university based on 3 principles:
    • 1) unity of research and teaching
    • 2) freedom of teaching
    • 3) academic self-governance.

See the previously circulated notes for this meeting
Attendees: Dilys Williams, Paul Halliday, John Wood

Introductions

  1. Dilys explained how she had happened to become an academic after many years as a senior designer with top UK fashion companies. Her aims were radical and had often been seen (by some institutions) as too transgressive to be welcomed.
  2. Paul's success in launching unorthodox academic courses seemed to mystify/alienate colleagues and managers alike.
  3. John had proved several educational innovations to be viable (e.g. learning & evaluation framework) in several countries but universities seem reluctant to challenge traditional methods, despite the growth in plagiarism and the AI arms race within assessment systems.
  4. All three of us agreed that our visions were bigger than that expected by our respective institutions.
  5. Much of our shared purpose was, at this stage, speculative.
  6. Dilys emphasized the importance of exceeding what is deemed normal or orthodox, professionally.
  7. Ideally, John's agenda (see the NewSchoolFutures Manifesto and the aim of creating a more holistic learning framework might be laudable....
  8. ...but Paul reminded us that we also need to identify some short-term issues/assets/opportunities including thinking about possible deliverables marketing criteria.

Some Ideas

  1. Dilys advocated workshops that would encourage learners to ponder their (private or future professional) self-identity within a specific location. She has some experience in using self-made T-shirts with a message (visual/textual) that the wearer identify with. (n.b. A vision quest is a rite of passage in some Native American cultures that may help a young person to find how best to serve the People.)
  2. Perhaps this could be integrated within John's self-reflexive learning & evaluation workshops (i.e. SELF)?
  3. Paul added to Dilys's suggestion of holding workshops in different places. Specific locations can be celebrated by (anthropological?) photography. (n.b. The brain has neurons called place cells that fire in site-specific contexts).
  4. Dilys suggested that we could aim to identify 4 equidistant part of London (e.g. North/East/West/South) and seek support from within those areas.
  5. John noted that walking whilst talking amplifies creativity. (see reference to Danny Bee below).
  6. In thinking about the three of us as initiators (rather than learners) Paul noted that we could call ourselves 'Free Radicals' (i.e. perhaps as a way to attract other members in the future?).
  7. John saw some relevance to Creative Team workshops. To be creative these usually need to be:
    • 1) small
    • 2) holacratic
    • 3) diverse.
    • (See the team roles tool).
    • One model we developed was with teams of 5, although only 4 work closely together while the other ('free radical') moves away in order to observe them from afar and to gather knowledge about the world around them.
    • After a while s/he returns to the inner circle of 4 and another member becomes a 'free radical'. (see network Consciousness part 2).
  8. Rather than working to a curriculum, John suggested inviting external speakers selected on an ad hoc basis. This would enable us to offer a bespoke, learner-centred service.

Possible Alliances / Assets

  1. Could we use the October Gallery as a venue for short courses? (Paul to investigate)
  2. Could we use the 4 Corners Gallery for similar purposes? (Paul to investigate)
  3. John will meet new Lewisham councillors (Green Party) and see if they would support us. (Meeting on 22nd June is still within submission deadline for Hugo Burge fund deadline). John to investigate).
  4. Would London Interdisciplinary School be willing to collaborate with us? (John to investigate)
  5. Les Moore invited Paul and John to the launch of his recent Clapton Traders Association (local currency software). (John to investigate).
  6. Niamh Tuft is Public Programme Manager at London Borough of Waltham Forest (Dilys to investigate)
  7. Danny Bee organises 'Radical Walks' around historic London. (John to investigate).

Funding

  1. John mentioned the Hugo Burge Foundation Grants opportunity that would enable us to test the water at a low level of expenditure i.e. <£15K.
  2. We agreed there was time to compile an application (by June 1st - July 31st 2026.

Possible deliverables

  1. Paul outlined his experience in running part-time 'portfolio creation' courses that prepare school leavers etc. for making application to university.
  2. Dilys suggested including a curated show.
  3. John advocated inviting a specific guest on behalf of each student, towards the end of the course. This person would be asked to act as a nominated stakeholder/client/future employer) for each student and respond to a 5 min pitch compiled specifically for them by the student.

POST SCRIPT
Please see John's draft pitch for sending to the London Interdisciplinary School

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