Introduction: This 2 year-long program is for people working at a strategic level in the regeneration and world change fields - It is open to all experienced practitioners who are ready to fine-tune their mastery and have it accredited. In the first place the potential Associate works on a Career Review before the start of the program and then proposes a project for the year in which they can a) display their mastery and b) learn self-identified knowledge and skills required to render their mastery increasingly complete and integrative.

Graduate Diplomas: Our Diplomas involve less extensive work in preparing outputs, about half the work of a Masters degree, and do not require the Associate to have a project mentor or client. They can be used to build up a sound basis for a Masters degree for less experienced Associates and are also suited to Associates who already have a Masters degree and are seeking to extend their portfolio of qualifications, perhaps in preparation for a Doctorate.

Who should apply: We seek regeneration and world change practitioners of substance and developed expertise who are good self-organizing learners. You will be excited by the prospect of designing your own curricula for your Masters program. You do not need to already have a Bachelors Degree. This is probably not a program for people straight out of undergraduate school.

Some of the Associates we are expecting are: - permaculture designers, ecovillage designers, species researchers, people considering making significant life transitions, change agents in organizations and networks, holistic health practitioners, artists for social change, natural builders, freelance teachers and tutors, social entrepreneurs, micro-enterprise initiators, community activists ...... Also see our MSc program in Integrative EcoSocial Design.

Dates, venues and fees

Program outline: Core elements in this self-designed Master of Science or Graduate Diploma program are a 6 day intensive residential opening workshop, a 7 day workshop on completion a year later and a 2 day accreditation festival/graduation contiguous with the completion workshop. 6 + 7 + 2 = 15 days total. Only two trips to and from the venue will be required.

During the year Associates will work at a project(s) of their own choosing. Each Associate for an MSc degree will need to identify a person(s) local to themselves who is prepared to undertake a project mentoring role. This person may well be a client who commissions and specifies the project.

Support in these activities is provided by a peer group (Action Learning Set), a Set Adviser, a Project Mentor and two Specialist Advisers.

Program detail: The initiating workshop has the following functions: -

1. To enquire as to the current learning practices of each Associate, to describe several action learning models, and to propose means whereby each Associate may enhance the productivity and effectiveness of their learning from experience

2. To ensure each Associate knows how to relate to the Gaia U accreditation process and is an effective user, through practice, of the peer group Action Learning Set, Set Adviser, Project Mentor and Specialist Advisor resource web surrounding their personal pathway, including using internet means of access to this WorkNet.

3. To outline the principles of integrative ecosocial design including attention to project design processes and methods.

4. To refine each Associate's intended project specifications to enhance learning yields and strategic, world change outcomes.

5. To tutor each Associates in the process of delivering the necessary outputs.

Outputs expected: Outputs are the pieces of work that evidence the Associates learning activities. Outputs can be in any form that is a) deliverable on CD or DVD and b) is capable of being searched - this means that outputs using audio and visual media need written indexes of key words or transcripts.

There are 6 outputs spaced at approximately 9 week intervals, adjusted for holidays, required during the year of this Open Topic MSc. Each has a word equivalence value. This is to indicate the scale of each piece of work. Details of these outputs.

Graduate Diploma candidates have a different number of outputs and requirements. See details of outputs for Graduate diplomas.

Your next steps: Check the dates, venues and fees information and ensure you can meet these conditions first. If you will need financial assistance please see our Preliminary Financial Aid form. Then complete and send the on-line application form. Start thinking about your Career Review and collecting the necessary portfolio material.