Different Ways of Obtaining a Diploma

By Rosemary Morrow

More items from International Permaculture Convergence 8 (IPC8) - Brazil May 2007.

At IPC8, there was much discussion and several presentations by various people from the 'developed world' representing organisations for accreditation, diplomas and PDC's. People from developing countries were generally more preoccupied by the urgency of permaculture outreach and need for basic resources for the poor and disadvantaged people they work with.

There are now five routes to obtaining a diploma:

• Gaia University in USA which offers a range of courses and mentoring for diplomas - I think face-to-face and on-line.
• The Chaordic Institute based in Spain which is particularly interested in diploma subjects as valuable information for permaculture worldwide and which offers its supervision on line.
• The Accreditation process to diploma in Australia which takes candidates through four levels of certification.
• The Scandinavian Convergence model.
• Australia the Permaculture Institute will confer a diploma for $75 by submission of a portfolio of work and refereed by someone known to the Permaculture Institute.)
  

The value of presenting for a diploma is the advantage to a student of deepening knowledge and experience, and measuring that by putting a portfolio together. The value to the permaculture movement should be great. However, in most cases, we do not learn of the valuable information channelled through the Diploma nor who the examiners are. To remedy this, Gaia University, Chaordic Institute and the Scandinavian Convergence model all seek to share the knowledge obtained by the publication of the diploma topic and details of the applicant. The processes for conferring diplomas is transparent in these cases. The Gaia University, Chaordic Institute and Accreditation processes all belong in the field of formal education and as such meet a need for formal recognition in a world increasingly demanding certification.

The Scandinavian Model proposes that a diploma candidate work under supervision for two years with two mentors. When ready, the candidate presents their work to their regional Permaculture Convergence at specific sessions. Their colleagues hear/see the presentation, can learn from it, and know the candidate. Also people known to be doing challenging permaculture work could be asked to submit work for a diploma so we can all learn from them. This model appeals to me as the most democratic because appraisal by colleagues is the most appropriate, transparent and fair evaluation.

I am a fervent advocate of non-formal education. From my committment to poor and disadvantaged people, and work in Cambodia, Viet Nam and Afghanistan, where people are often illiterate or unable to find the fees necessary to be appraised, yet are doing brilliant permaculture, I suport the Convergence Model as enabling them to be recognised instead of overlooked. It is the most revolutionary model because it by-passes the formal education stream.

I was originally impressed in my PDC course by the Permaculture Institute saying that after the PDC we did not need more courses in case we get addicted to them instead of "doing" permaculture. Fundamentally I still agree with this. However I also believe that recognition is important.

As we have the PDC still existing informally throughout the Australia and the world, alongside other permaculture training so I would like to see candidates for their Diplomas, if they wished, able to choose this route through the Convergence Model. This increases diversity in learning and presenting. I'd like to discuss this more at Australian Permaculture Convergence 9 to be held in March 2008 (APC9). Would you be interested at a future APC (not this one) in attending a session where diploma candidates present their work?

Rowe Morrow

Cherish the Earth


Information on Accredited Permaculture Training in Australia can be found at www.permacultureinternational.org/apt


Pat Rayner