Iain MacKinnon writes: In April an intense weekend-long discussion of the MSc course in Human Ecology took place which resulted in a renewed commitment to its future by former students, graduates and teaching staff. This commitment includes revitalisation of the CHE Board of Directors, development of structures for graduates to contribute to the course’s learning community, greater interaction with the Department of Geography and Sociology, new opportunities for outside option modules, and for the first time ever, introduction of modest fee-waivers. In a more long-term vision, the CHE also intends to begin developing Communities of Practice around pressing themes. 

Since 2005, the MSc has been run as a partnership between the Centre for Human Ecology and The Department of Geography and Sociology at Strathclyde University, with Verene Nicolas and Nick Wilding holding the key core modules, which focus on participatory approaches to learning and community building.

However, after many years as a fulcrum of the course, Nick is stepping back from his central role on the core modules and this means that Verene, as course co-ordinator, will need plenty of support in order to foster the kind of transformative learning environment which the CHE pedagogy requires in order to succeed.

One element of that support will come from the Board of Directors, which is currently in the process of strategically recruiting new members. Another element will be the development of a new mentoring system, with graduates trained as mentors for current students. This will remove the burden of mentoring from the teaching staff and give graduates the opportunity to stay connected with the course and the CHE and share their own learning experiences on the course. Adam Howard, Ewen Hardie, Iain MacKinnon, Lusi Alderslowe, Mary-Anna Wright, Myshele Goldberg, Pete Chatalos and Sylvan Argo all committed to this aspect of the CHE’s development.

In efforts to strengthen connections with the Department of Geography and Sociology, David Miller and Will Dinan have committed to help the Human Ecology MSc build links both within the department and with other areas of the university, through shared option modules, research clusters, and increased training in research methodologies appropriate to the CHE approach.

The need to promote the CHE within and beyond the university was also discussed, in the context of attracting students, funding, and wider interest in our work. Helen Jeans, who has a wealth of experience in helping organisations with funding and marketing issues, is going to take these on for the CHE, supported by Sylvan Argo, while Myshele Goldberg will continue to maintain the CHE’s web presence and co-ordinate the newsletter. Gerri Smyth has agreed to help Vérène plan and frame this year’s course.

The department has also made available a small number of fee-waivers for 2008-09 students. Selection criteria will be announced shortly on both the CHE and department websites. Building on students’ experience of fund raising to cover their fees, we’ll also publish shortly a list of potential funders.

Changes within the MSc are set in the context of the emerging Communities of Practice that the CHE intends to develop. These will allow members of the CHE community to share experiences and learnings with others interested in a particular area. Several possible communities of practice have already been suggested, such as facilitating change through transformative learning, working within academia, bridging sustainability, spirituality and business, and building individual resilience.

Course co-ordinator, Vérène Nicolas, said “there is energy among members of the CHE community to support and sustain the course. What we are trying to do now is to channel it most effectively. With fresh energy comes new opportunities and I feel this could be an exciting time for CHE.”

We are currently accepting applications for the 2008-09 academic year, so please spread the word!

A new leaflet will be available shortly -- if you would like to distribute these to your networks, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it We look forward to welcoming a new group of students in September and moving forward with the work of transformation.