Academic Partnership Courses

One of our international partner academic institutions may be offering a Gaia Education accredited course near you. In addition to being closer to where you live, some of our courses with partner institutions also allow you to work while you are learning.

Open University of Catalonia- Virtual Gaia Education Design for Sustainability

From October 2008 Gaia Education, in partnership with the Open University of Catalonia, UOC, is offering the one year-long course Gaia Education Design for Sustainability, GEDS, an e-learning course based on the 4 dimensions of the EDE, with emphasis in the development of sustainable communities and organizations.

In October 2010, the e-GEDS will become a postgraduate course within the UOC International Graduate Institute, as a first step to convert the e-GEDS into a Master degree with formal accreditation.

The Open University of Catalonia, UOC, makes an intensive use of information and communication technologies to offer an educational model based on the idea of 'virtual campus', an educational platform on the Internet where students, teachers and other members of the teaching community meet in an interactive space beyond the limitations of time and physical space.

Gaia Education participates as well from the very beginning in the Eco University project -a new area within the UOC campus that will offer all sorts of e-courses related to the GE four dimensions of sustainability: social, economics, ecological and worldview. Gaia Education participates in this project in partnership with UOC, Eco-Union and EcoServeis, two Spanish leading organizations in environmental education and consultancy services.

Findhorn Foundation College in Scotland

In addition to the long-standing 3 month Findhorn Community Semester programme offered in colaboration with Living Routes, the Findhorn College regularly hosts the University of St. Andrews undergraduate programme in sustainable development for a residential intensive which among other subjects introduces them to the four dimensions of the Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) curriculum.

In May 2009, Heriot-Watt University approved the first MSc in Sustainable Community Design with two compulsory modules in 'Ecovillage Practice' and 'Community Design Practice' taught by Findhorn College and Gaia Education Faculty at the Findhorn Ecovillage

The University of Highlands and Islands (UHI) are preparing to offer three new masters programmes (MSc Developing Sustainable Rural Communities; MScDeveloping Low Carbon Communities; MSc Sustainable Energy Solutions) for 2010 onwards. All of these programmes will offer a residential intensive at the Findhorn Ecovillage, which will introduce students to the EDE curriculum.

Findhorn College, in collaboration with Gaia Education Faculty, is in the process of co-developing new masters and PhD programmes with the University of St. Andrews, the University of Dundee, Robert Gordon University (Aberdeeen) and the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Turkey

Middle East Technical University
Abant Izzet Baysal University

For the last three years Gaia Education has been offering weeklong Gaia Education International Workshop on Sustainable Living in Turkey in partnership with the following academic partners:

Middle East Technical University in Ankara ( 2007 & 2008 )
Abant Izzet Baysal University in Bolu (2009)
Other partners included: Fred Foundation, Guneskoy Cooperative, Heinrich Boell Foundation.

Living Routes

Living Routes was founded in 1999 and partners with the University of Massachusetts – Amherst to run semester, summer, and January programs based in ecovillages around the world.

These are academic and experiential programs and students have come from all over North America and many other countries to participate. Several Living Routes’ programmes have also been certified as EDE courses including their semester programmes in Scotland (in collaboration with the Findhorn Foundation) and India (in collaboration with Auroville). It is hoped that more will become certified over time..

www.LivingRoutes.org

Ecovillage Design Education in USA in partnership with the University of New Mexico

The programme, presented by Ecovillage Design Southwest & Village Design Institute, was hosted at the University of New Mexico through their Continuing Education Programme from September 2007 to May 2008.

Based on the Gaia Education Ecovillage Design Curriculum, each of the 4 dimensions was covered in a 10-day programme consisting of five weekday evenings and two full-day weekends. It included field trips and hands on projects at various sites, communities and ecovillages around the city of Albuquerque and the state of NM for the last two days of each module.

The EDE at the University of New Mexico presented a learning environment for the design of viable models for both urban and rural settlements.

www.ecovillagedesignsouthwest.org
www.unm.edu

EcoLogical Solutions at Crystal Waters, Australia

For over 15 years Ecological Solutions has been offering courses for overseas Universities at Crystal Waters. During this period they have organised programmes for Korean Universities(CIEE) and corporations (EJANG), Japanese Universities (Kyushu Lutheran College, CHUO, WASEDA and Meiji Gakuin Universities) and Universities from the USA (Pacific Lutheran College, Rollins College, Plymouth State University and Centre College).

Most of the programmes are "for credit" and are tailored to fit the needs of the Universities. Course length can vary from a short 1 week introduction to more extensive 7 week stays. Average length for a course is about 3 weeks. Ecological Solutions also offers courses is part of the GAIA Education network, offering the accredited Ecovillage Design Education annually.

In 2005, Ecological Solutions received the Sunshine Coast Environmental Council's Certificate of Excellence in the field of Environmental Education.

www.ecologicalsolutions.com.au

Center for Creative Ecology, Kibbutz Lotan in partnership with Living Routes and UMass Amherst

Undergraduate college students are eligible to receive 16 college credits upon completion of the Peace, Justice and Environment Academic Semester program. The program incorporates the Gaia Education Ecovillage Design Education(EDE)curriculum and the Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) with practical training in an academic environment. This program emphasizes critical thinking, open-mindedness, consensus decision-making, community living and non-violent communication in order to explore sensitive international, community and personal dynamics. Students explore the connections between new forms of ecological identity and stewardship, social justice and community in Israel. Students work alongside Palestinian-Arab, Bedouin and Jewish Israelis who are striving for a just and lasting peace.

www.kibbutzlotan.com/lr