What Skills Do Students Need to Thrive in a Global Environment? - Dr. Alan Knobloch, Head of ISH
In this first episode, we delve into the core of the matter: what is the purpose of school today? What skills do students need to learn for their future and how do schools go about teaching them?
Our guest, Dr. Alan Knobloch, the Head of the International School of Hamburg, will argue that to best prepare citizens of the future who can thrive in an ever-changing global environment, schools should aim to serve the needs of the child as a whole, develop students’ knowledge and their talents, but also, and increasingly, their socio-emotional wellbeing and resilience. How do they go about this? Tune into this podcast to learn more.
Our guest, Dr. Alan Knobloch, the Head of the International School of Hamburg, will argue that to best prepare citizens of the future who can thrive in an ever-changing global environment, schools should aim to serve the needs of the child as a whole, develop students’ knowledge and their talents, but also, and increasingly, their socio-emotional wellbeing and resilience. How do they go about this? Tune into this podcast to learn more.
Creators and Guests
Host
Sarah Reich
Sarah Reich, your host, serves as the Director of Community Relations at the International School of Hamburg. With a career in European government relations and public affairs, Sarah has worked within EU institutions, the consular corps, and leading international companies. Her academic and professional interests have always centred on governance and citizenship, making the mission of the International School of Hamburg—to prepare students as tomorrow’s global citizens—a perfect fit. In 2022, upon joining the International School of Hamburg, Sarah launched the Kids Gone Global podcast. This initiative aims to provide a platform for sharing the insights of experts and students in the dynamic field of international education. Through the podcast, she engages parents and the broader community in discussions about modern educational approaches and how international schools are addressing contemporary challenges in learning and growing up in a global environment.
Guest
Dr. Alan Knobloch
Dr. Alan Knobloch has served as Head of the International School of Hamburg since 2022 and brings more than 30 years of experience in international education. His career has taken him to schools across the United States, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Prior to joining ISH, he was the Director of the International School of Dakar in Senegal and held senior leadership roles at several private international schools, including the American Schools in Shanghai and Singapore. Teaching has remained central to Alan’s professional life. His experience spans primary mathematics, supporting children with special needs, lecturing in psychology at the university level, and advising doctoral students. This broad background shapes his perspective on what schools must provide for students today. Alan is an active member of the wider international education community. He has served on the boards of several associations and currently sits on the board—and serves as treasurer—of both the Academy of International School Heads and the Association for the Advancement of International Education. He also works with school boards as a consultant on governance and financial planning and frequently speaks at conferences on educational innovation. In this episode, Alan shares his views on the evolving purpose of school and the skills students need to navigate an increasingly complex world. He discusses why schools must attend to the whole child—supporting academic growth, personal strengths, socio-emotional wellbeing, and resilience—and how educational communities can work toward these goals.
