Welcome

MSc in Managing Sustainability and Uncertainty

“Our task is to look at the world and see it whole”, EF Schumacher, from A Guide for the Perplexed.


For the date of our next MSc Open Day – click here

Introduction         What you will learn         Course content         Structure         Entry and fees         Tutors and contributors

Who the programme is for

You have experience of management. You have tried conventional approaches to doing things better but you need more effective ways to tackle the increasing complexity and uncertainty of a fast-moving world. You want to deepen your own experience and understanding of the world, to learn more about what being sustainable means, for you and for your organisation. You also want to gain valuable insights by working with people from diverse backgrounds across different sectors - public, private and not-for-profit.
 
What the MSc offers
The Schumacher Institute education programme in Managing Sustainability and Uncertainty, fully accredited as an MSc, offers a flexible part-time programme which is rooted in the ideals, extensive networks and international research work of the Schumacher Institute. Free from the constraints of a university, it is designed not only fit to with your work but to become part it. The course provides an opportunity to choose your own track, using the three-monthly workshops to learn about new ideas from visiting experts. You will be given the opportunity to reflect on these ideas with your fellow students, in cafe society or open space settings, and then test out your ideas through action, in readiness for the next workshop.
 
What you will learn
On successful completion of this programme you will know about:

  • Current approaches to economics, politics, science, business and social systems
  • The state of our planet
  • Different paradigms and perspectives for understanding the world
  • The importance of ethical, social and environmental responsibility
  • Sustainable approaches to managing yourself, business and society

 
You will be able to:

  • Recognise and develop your own worldview, and the consequences of this
  • Develop, implement and manage change in uncertain and complex conditions
  • Pioneer new management approaches
  • Investigate and enquire, through reflection, action and practical application

 
For further details, use the menu at the head of this page.
 
How much time, where and when
The two-year programme will be based in Bristol and will start in October. There will be 6 workshops, each lasting 4 days (from Wednesday to Saturday), in October, February and June each year. One of these will be at Schumacher College in Devon. There will be an additional 2 day session during the 3 month period of your project.
 
How your learning will develop
There are no exams. After each of the first 5 workshops you will reflect, in the first person, on the action you have taken. After the 6th workshop, you will do a long project where you can bring together everything you have learned and apply it to a real situation of deep value to you, or your organisation, or both.
 
The qualifications you will attain
You will graduate with a Masters, accredited by a local University. You will also be enrolled as an honorary Associate of the Schumacher Institute. This will offer you a lasting network of people committed to making the world a better place and delighted to offer you continuing support.
 
How you and your organisation will benefit
Your employer will benefit from your new ideas, your personal development and your increasing ability to manage and lead in the face of uncertainty. You will also help them achieve a deeper understanding of what it means to act sustainably.
 
Value for money
The fee for this fully accredited and visionary programme is £3,000 per year. This represents excellent value for money and compares favourably with similar masters programmes. Our fees are designed to enable us to book outstanding visiting speakers and ensure that the content of the programme remains up to date, relevant and groundbreaking.
 
We recognise that this fee may still exclude some people, so to ensure that we stay true to our commitment to attract students from a diverse range of backgrounds, we are offering an initial bursary (for the first year only) of £300 to selected students. Please contact us for more information.
 
Finding out more and Open Days
For further information, please explore this site by using the buttons at the head of the page. To apply to join the programme, or to book a place on one of our Open Days, or to discuss your situation in more detail, please email the Director of Education Programmes, Martin Sandbrook on martin@schumacherinstitute.org.uk