News & Interviews

Employment Opportunity: Devon School for Social Entrepreneurs

Thursday June 25, 2009

As part of its rapid growth in the UK, and with recently secured funding, a new Devon SSE is being set up led by Dartington working with a coalition of county wide organisations. This new post of Learning Manager is integral to the success of Devon SSE in its first phase of development.

Newsletter June 2009

Friday June 12, 2009

Autumn booking open – early booking discounts available on many courses
There are early booking discounts for a limited number of applicants, and normal pricing will resume after 24 July. Take advantage of early booking – go straight to on-line booking for all courses

Schumacher and Duchy Colleges combine to see horticultural education return to Dartington

Friday June 12, 2009

Through the Dartington Diploma in Sustainable Horticulture, Dartington is to revive its proud history of horticultural education, with a new course designed to equip growers with the skills necessary for 21st century food production. The course combines theoretical with practical education as students gain real-life experience working alongside three gardening projects on the Dartington estate; the main gardens, School Farm and the forest garden around Schumacher College.

Biomimicry: why the world is full of intelligent design

Thursday June 11, 2009

Telegraph newspaper coverage
We humans like to think we’re pretty good at design and technology – but we often forget that Mother Nature had a head start of 3.6 million years. Now, the way that geckoes climb walls, or hummingbirds hover, is at the centre of a burgeoning industry: biomimicry, the science of “reverse-engineering” clever ideas from the natural world.

Thomas Berry, 1914-2009

Wednesday June 10, 2009

On June 1, the theologian Thomas Berry passed away peacefully at the age of 94. The following day, participants on our Small is Beautiful Revisited course remembered him at the morning meeting, with a reading from one of his books, The Great Work.

Governance with Ecological Integrity

Friday June 5, 2009

Where biomimicry seeks design solutions from the natural world, Community Ecological Governance looks to Nature to derive human governance systems, built upon a foundation of ecoliteracy.

The Dartington Schumacher College Think Tank

Monday June 1, 2009

The Dartington Schumacher College Think Tank took take place on 15th and 16th May to discuss a forward strategy for Dartington Schumacher College.

Global change and environmental crisis: Local communities hold the answers

Friday May 22, 2009

Maintaining biocultural diversity is an act of supreme collective intelligence according to Gary Martin, Director of the Global Diversity Foundation. Local community knowledge may hold the keys to addressing global challenges like climate change, ecosystem health and food security.

Newsletter May 2009

Thursday May 21, 2009

Courses for the autumn include Biotecture in Practice: Building an Earthship; Exploring Ethnobotany: Plants as healers; and Growth and Consequence: Rethinking our economic future. We have released the initial course details so you can put the dates in your diary. Why not register your interest in one or more courses and you will be the first to know when the courses open for booking, with further details and any early-bird discounts.

Director Charlie McConnell talks about his first months at the college

Thursday May 21, 2009

May marks my first six months at Dartington. I joined the Trust following five years as CEO of the Carnegie UK Trust, where amongst other initiatives we launched the influential Carnegie Commission for Rural Communities and the Carnegie Commission on the future of Civil Society… The opportunity to move to Dartington to lead the Trust’s work on sustainability and to run the internationally respected Schumacher College was a challenge I’ve relished…

Future farming at School Farm, Dartington

Thursday May 21, 2009

Salad-loving staff and tenants will be well aware of fresh salad sprouting in the entrances of many buildings around the estate. These are just some of the fruits of the recent hard work at School Farm where pioneer horticulturalist, Nick Gooderham, has been breathing new life into the previously unoccupied premises.

Exciting employment opportunity at Dartington Schumacher College

Friday May 1, 2009

Living Classroom Educator (part time)
We are seeking to make this new appointment to enable us to address more effectively the urgent imperatives of climate change, economic crisis and social upheaval.

Information regarding Swine Influenza

Friday May 1, 2009

Activities at Schumacher College continue as normal. We are monitoring the situation. We suggest you visit the WHO site for regular and updated information http://www.who.int/en/

Newsletter April 23, 2009

Wednesday April 22, 2009

Welcome to the Dartington Schumacher College newsletter. We have ideas on G20 and the relevance of Schumacher today, eletric vans as a way forward, information about employment opportunities at Dartington, and extract from Frijof Capra’s new book and further details on our pioneering course – Valuing Diversity.

Big figures, but how can we transform the economic system with ‘small is beautiful’?

Thursday April 9, 2009

In his famous book, Small is Beautiful: Economics as if people mattered, E.F. Schumacher brilliantly articulated the need to align economics with natural resources.

Newsletter: April 2009

Wednesday April 8, 2009

Spring has now arrived in the Northern Hemisphere and the day are lengthening and getting warmer. During May we are delighted to be welcoming back Fritjof Capra and Thomas Moore who are both returning to Schumacher after a few years.

Newsletter: Febuary 2009

Tuesday April 7, 2009

The opening weeks of 2009 have been optimistic at Schumacher College as participants joined us for two challenging yet highly rewarding courses Exploring Science, Matter and Consciousness and the timely Embedding Holistic Economics: For a global community. The forthcoming courses for spring/summer 2009 are equally relevant and inspiring.

Final Places available for Sustainability Networking Dinner hosted by Dartington Hall

Thursday March 12, 2009

On 12 March, Dartington Hall, in association with Business Network (SW), is hosting a Sustainability Networking Dinner for regional businesses.

Applications close this Friday for the MSc in Holistic Science. Apply now for your chance to study with James Lovelock and other visiting teachers

Monday February 23, 2009

A few hours ago James Lovelock, world famous scientist and founder of Gaia theory was speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He is just one of an impressive and at times controversial group of visiting teachers who teach on the MSc in Holistic Science at Schumacher College.

Newsletter: December 2008

Friday December 19, 2008

Welcome to a special seasonal issue of the Schumacher College newsletter. As we celebrrate the season and look forward to the New Year we have news of staff changes, exciting courses and a wonderful range of events, where we invite you to meet our tutors, visit the college and discuss the hot topics of the day.

Certificate in Sustainable Health- Time to apply!

Friday December 12, 2008

Schumacher College is inviting applications for the new Certificate in Sustainable Health which starts in February 2009.

Certificate in Education for Sustainability: Last chance to apply!

Wednesday November 19, 2008

The closing date for applications to the Schumacher Certificate in Education for Sustainability is 30th November 2008.

Sustainability at Dartington: A Year On

Tuesday November 18, 2008

In the last year, The Dartington Hall Trust which includes Schumacher College, has made fantastic progress in its aim to become a carbon and waste neutral ‘living classrom’.

Dartington Appoints New Director of Sustainability

Tuesday November 18, 2008

On 1 December 2008, Charlie McConnell will take over as Dartington’s first Director of Sustainability – overseeing sustainability across the Estate including Schumacher College.

Breaking bread with Andrew Whitley and Carlo Petrini

Monday November 17, 2008

Baker, Andrew Whitley and founder of the Slow Food movement, Carlo Petrini will be leading a discussion on Real Food, Slow Food in the Great Hall, Dartington at 7.30pm on Wednesday 19th November.

Eco Entrepreneurs: Apply today for a business course with a difference!

Wednesday October 29, 2008

In the current tough economic times, being a social entrepreneur or launching an ethical enterprise can be a lonely experience. That’s why Schumacher College has created Ethical Pioneers, a two week masterclass for entrepreneurs. Apply today for final places.

Newsletter: October 2008

Monday October 27, 2008

Welcome to the October issue of the Schumacher College newsletter. This month we are featuring two fantastic programmes: the transformative and inspirational Certificate in Education, and brand new Certificate in Sustainable Health.

Schumacher students explode Seed-Bomb

Friday October 10, 2008

Students on the Schumacher Certificate in Education programme are due to launch ‘Seed-Bomb’, an educational conference with a difference at the University of Bradford on Monday 13th October.

NEW: The Certificate in Sustainable Health

Monday October 6, 2008

This new programmme provides an exciting opportunity to explore a holistic approach to mainstream and alternative health care, in a new and challenging light. Apply today!

Certificate in Education- Time to apply!

Friday October 3, 2008

We hope, like us, you are excited by the potential of this programme to really engage the individual as well as have a creative and lasting effect on education for sustainability across the globe. We look forward to welcoming you, or someone you know, soon.

A legal precedent? Schumacher College hosts the debate

Monday September 15, 2008

Schumacher College, at Dartington is welcoming four legal experts on the growing and topical legal specialism of Earth Jurisprudence or wild law, to consider how the legal system and other forms of governance may be harnessed to protect the natural world and to learn from real examples while exploring the philosophy and theory underpinning this exciting and evolving area of law. The course is timely, given events of the past week involving the court case between Greenpeace activists and energy giant E.ON.

Newsletter: September 2008

Tuesday September 9, 2008

Welcome to a new academic year at Schumacher College. We have lots of new information about next years courses, more on the brilliant Allan Jones – teaching here in October, how you can help your enterprising contacts find us, and other news about a new book, a new DVD and articles on-line.

Hot off the press - Holistic Education: Learning from Schumacher College

Friday September 5, 2008

This book, by Anne Phillips, describes how the College came to be set up by The Dartington Hall Trust in Devon, England. It explains the policies and practices adopted to ensure that the learning processes were consistent with – and reinforced – the topics being studied.

Earth Pilgrim DVD released: A Spiritual Journey into the Landscape of Dartmoor with Satish Kumar

Friday August 29, 2008

Satish Kumar, Programme Director at Schumacher College, Dartington and Editor of Resurgence magazine spends one year exploring the beauty of England’s Dartmoor National Park. Produced as part of the award-winning Natural World Series for the BBC.

Job Opportunity: Director of Sustainability

Wednesday July 30, 2008

As Director of Sustainability, you will be responsible for all our activities across this major strand of our work, including Schumacher College and Landscope. You will need to develop an overall strategy, to create innovative programmes that address the challenges of sustainability in ways that you believe are important, and to review our existing activities to ensure they remain at the leading edge in their fields and contribute to the whole. Closing date: Tuesday 2nd September.

Welcome to the Schumacher College newsletter, July 2008

Wednesday July 23, 2008

We know many of you are still keen to take advantage of our summer deal – so we have extended this offer until the end of July, see below for details. Also here – more details about some of the exceptional teaching in-store on our sustainability and leadership courses in the autumn, experiences from the first year of the Certificate in Education and information about a temporary post at Schumacher College

Schumacher College Supports Resurgence Slow Sunday

Wednesday July 23, 2008

Schumacher College is supporting Resurgence magazine in the first in a series of Slow Sundays. On July 27th 2008, friends, alumni and local residents are being invited to bake their own bread, for themselves, their friends and their neighbours – a simple action that symbolises a respect for the planet, a desire for change and a move towards a more sustainable future.

A new generation of educators in times of change: The Schumacher Certificate in Education

Wednesday July 23, 2008

Here at Schumacher College, we are completing the first year of our Certificate in Education. It is clear at this point that this innovative programme has been as successful in supporting the professional and personal development of eleven dynamic individuals as we had hoped.

Work for Schumacher College: Marketing & Publicity Co-ordinator

Wednesday July 23, 2008

This is a key role at the College with responsibility for implementing the College marketing strategy, including for the prestigious short course and Masters programmes, expanding and enhancing the awareness of the College courses and stakeholder liaison, website and database management.

Design in context: Systems, Business and Society

Thursday July 10, 2008

This month we are pleased to be featuring two courses geared towards professionals seriously looking for innovative, creative solutions within the multi-faceted disciplines of industrial/product design, business strategy and organisational change: Biomimicry and Systems Thinking in Practice.

The ABOCA Scholarship for students of Holistic Science.

Tuesday June 3, 2008

We are proud to announce the establishment of a scholarship fund in support of our MSc in Holistic Science by the Italian company ABOCA.

Previously sold-out, new Gaia’s Kitchen now for sale

Tuesday June 3, 2008

For those of you who have waited for the new print of the sell-out Gaia’s Kitchen by Schumacher College’s Julia Ponsonby can now purchase copies from Green Books.

Clare Short MP talks about her time visiting Schumacher College and Transition Town Totnes

Tuesday June 3, 2008

Just before Easter, I accepted an invitation to contribute to a course on development at Schumacher College which is situated in the grounds of Dartington Hall, near Totnes. The college is famous for its commitment to environmental sustainability as is the Dartington Trust.

Newsletter: May 2008

Tuesday May 27, 2008

We are delighted that Starhawk will be teaching on our forthcoming course Sacred Activism this summer. Starhawk is the author or co-author of ten books including The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess, and is internationally known for reviving earth-based spirituality, bringing techniques and creative power of spirituality to political activism.

Global learning at Dartington: An update on the Schumacher Certificate in Education

Wednesday March 19, 2008

The Certificate in Education was established at Schumacher College in 2007 to provide a platform for participants to develop their professional practice in adult education for sustainability. The aim is to broaden the reach of the ‘Schumacher educational experience’ whilst bringing in other ideas to create new models. It is also hoped that in empowering participants to create similar centres or projects in their local communities, people can find this inspiration and learning within their own region rather than needing to fly across the world; a global education with a smaller carbon footprint.

Schumacher College experts meet in London to discuss solutions for sustainability crisis

Friday February 29, 2008

Expert teachers and faculty meet in London’s Cecil Sharp House on Saturday 8th March to discuss the most pressing questions about the environment, education and international development.

Karen Blincoe, Director of Schumacher College, who will be on the panel said: ‘This event is really addressing the pressing needs of our time and is an extension of the discussions we have each day at the College. We feel that education, through events like this, provide an opportunity to bring people together to help design the solutions that the planet so urgently needs.’

Walk with the Earth Pilgrim: Satish Kumar

Tuesday January 22, 2008

15 to 19 September, 2008, A Schumacher College Course
Those who enjoyed watching Earth Pilgrim on BBC2’s Natural World can now have the opportunity to walk on Dartmoor in the company of Satish Kumar, who will share with them his reverential approach to nature and lead them on a pilgrimage into the tors, valleys, woodlands and other hidden corners of this beautiful landscape.

EARTH PILGRIM: a year on Dartmoor

Monday January 14, 2008

A production by the Emmy award-winning AGB Films, for the BBC2 series Natural World, which tracks ecologist, writer and Gandhi disciple, Satish Kumar, Programme Director at Schumacher College, as he walks Dartmoor in all its seasons, sharing the distinctively Indian perspective he brings to one of England’s best known landscapes.

Celebration of the re-print of Gaia’s Kitchen

Wednesday December 12, 2007

In 2001 Gaia’s Kitchen, by Schumacher College Chef, Julia Ponsonby won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for best vegetarian cookbook. For those of who have been waiting for a copy, you have a treat in store – the book is currently being prepared for reprint.

College brings experts together to develop new action plan for global economic system

Thursday November 15, 2007

24 of the top economic, development and sustainability specialists from around the world will meet at Schumacher College for a weekend think tank between November 14 – 18 to discuss the future of global economics, ecology and equity.

Developing the Certificate in Education and Ethical Pioneers course

Wednesday October 24, 2007

Toni Spencer, one of our newer members of staff who has been developing the Certificate of Education and Ethical Pioneers programmes, tells us how they came about in response to the direct needs of College participants.

Snappily done: Autumn juicing at Schumacher College

Wednesday October 17, 2007

It is apple season here at Dartington, and across the UK crops are up 10% due to the ideal summer weather. Look no further than Schumacher College to see what one can do with the mighty crops that we are lucky enough to enjoy on the estate…

A Special Interview with Karen Blincoe

(interview) Friday September 28, 2007

After a year at the College, Karen takes a moment to reflect on the College, how it was, how it is and how it will be.

Desire Lines: The Ecologies of Language

Saturday September 8, 2007

It is crucial to explore relationships between the individual and their cultural, social, economic and natural environments. Desire Lines 2007 provides an environment in which to examine the role language plays in this complex framework. read more…

Dartington's Green Future - a talk by Jon Rae

Sunday September 2, 2007

On Tuesday 2nd October 2007 in the Ship Studio, Dartington Hall, Jon Rae, Dartington Hall Trust’s first sustainability officer, will be giving a talk about his work on the estate and Dartington’s greener future as a whole. read more…

India’s growing economy and the new economics - Open Evening Report

Friday June 29, 2007

India used to have a “Hindu rate of growth,” at not more than 4% per annum. Rules put in place after the colonial era, ensured that the poor were not dispossessed. With such a large population in India, supporting the entire country required, and achieved, a miracle of equity. read more…

The Totnes Pound is far from spent

Thursday June 28, 2007

In response to the massive interest generated by the distribution of 300 Totnes pounds Transition Town Totnes (TTT) are issuing 5000 Totnes Pounds, supported by Schumacher College and Totnes and District Chamber of Commerce. read more…

New Strategies for Zero-Energy Housing - Open Evening Report

Tuesday June 12, 2007

There were two talks at St Johns Church in Bridgetown, Totnes, on the evening of 23 May (continuing the series organised by Schumacher College and Transition Town Totnes) read more…

New Strategies for Zero-Energy Housing II - Open Evening Report

Sunday June 10, 2007

In the second talk, Bill Dunster began by making an important point, that as we move towards a low carbon future, and begin to seriously address the problem of global warming, we shall no longer be able to import food, or energy, in any significant amount. read more…

Nature's Due - a new book by Brian Goodwin

Thursday May 24, 2007

Nature’s Due is a broad, ambitious book with far-reaching consequences – essential reading for all those who wish to understand how nature and human culture can coexist more successfully. read more…

Satish Kumar to Visit Australia in May

Monday April 23, 2007

International sustainability leader and Gandhian peace activist, Satish Kumar, will visit Australia in early May to brief business, government and community representatives about global sustainability issues and initiatives.

Earthly rights: Earth jurisprudence - Open Evening Report

Thursday April 12, 2007

The only way to stop us ruining our planet is to give it legal rights, says Stephan Harding – Guardian Unlimited, Tuesday 3/4/07.

Illness to Wellness - Open Evening Report

Tuesday April 10, 2007

Nicky Britain, Michael Dixon, Simon Mills, Robert Duggan This evening meeting was held half way through a conference on the same subject being held at Schumacher College, with all four conference speakers present.

At the end of the era of globalization - Open Evening Report

Friday March 23, 2007

At the end of the era of globalization, turning again to the local
A talk given by Jerry Mander as part of a series of talks in which the Schumacher College Open Evenings move into town to reach the wider audience of Totnes. The event was held in association with Transition Town Totnes, 14/3/07.

Schumacher College Interview: John Croft

Wednesday March 7, 2007

John Croft taught at the Schumacher College this February as part of the course Climate Change: Seeing the whole picture. Between activities we met and spent some time discussing climate change, how it is challenging course participants and the word at large.

They’ll take the climate change message across the globe

Wednesday February 28, 2007

Thirty students at Dartington’s Schumacher College have pledged to fight climate change after a three-week course had opened their eyes to the problem.

The IPCC report: the science is there, but are we willing to change?

Monday January 15, 2007

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has delivered the final blow to climate-change sceptics. The word its report uses is ‘unequivocal’. But is the world prepared to accept the results of this judgement? read more…

Time to Wake up - Open Evening Report

Sunday January 7, 2007

Schumacher College and Transition Town Totnes jointly offered this lecture by Peter Russell on January 18th. Peter was tutoring on Schumacher College’s ‘Science and Spirituality’ course that week. The lecture was attended by about 300 people. read more…

Culture, Community and Home - Open Evening Report

Sunday December 10, 2006

On the 15th November, David Fleming, developer of Tradable Energy Quotas outlined his Practical Guide to Energy Descent to an audience of over 200 people in St John’s Church, Bridgetown, Totnes. read more…

New Roots of Learning Course - Re-Animating Science

Thursday December 7, 2006

A third Roots of Learning course has been added to the programme, scheduled to run over the spring half-term. read more…

A Taste of Schumacher College

Monday November 6, 2006

When Julia Ponsonby one of Schumacher College’s cooks wrote Gaia’s Kitchen it was not only a collection of favourite recipes, but a living demonstration of the way that good food also nourishes the soul. read more…