- Date: 1 February – 31 July 2020
- Location: Wongsanit Ashram, Klong 15, Ongkharak, Nakhon Nayok, 26120, Thailand
- Language:
- English
- Run by:
- Areas:
- Context:
- Category:
SEM College’s MA in Awakening Leadership is a participative, contemplative, reflective, analytic and creative programme developed as a collaborative venture of SEM (Spirit in Education Movement), INEB (International Network of Engaged Buddhists), Ecovillage Transition Asia and Bodhisastra University in Florida, USA.
The program is designed to accommodate applicants with interests in a variety of areas of leadership:
- Education/ Facilitation for Social Change (Education for Empowerment)
- Mindfulness Education/ Coaching (Personal and Spiritual Growth)
- Holistic Sustainability for Social Change (Community Empowerment)
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
The MA programme in Awakening Leadership provides a unique combination of coursework and project work, individually tailored to participant’s needs and requirements.
Our educational approach is as important as the contents of the course working to bring about the levels of empowerment and awakening. These include:
- Co-creation of knowledge and Self-empowerment
- Critical Thinking, Paradigm Shift, Un-learning and Re-learning
- Mindfulness and Meditation
The program takes the students through two different process of learning:
1) Coursework, and
2) Individual research project.
The programme coursework is taught in English and follows 5 areas of learning (Worldview; Interpersonal Dynamics; Eco-political Economy; Ecosystem; and Means for Social Transformation) to bring about a new way of being, doing and having in the contemporary world based on a new, more holistic paradigm. Read more about the areas of learning …
Integrated learning from the coursework as well as any other previous experiences is applied through individual research project work. Project work takes place both in the form of mini projects – developing knowledge gained through coursework – as well the final project.
Students who have attended at least 75% of each learning area of the BLT (Buddhist Leadership Training) or ALT (Awakening Leadership Training) programme are already eligible to move on to their final projects.
See overall schedule of Awakening Leadership Training 2019
Learning outcomes assessment is comprised of:
• Objective assessment of student’s final project by a jury of 3 independent examiners and a group of peers.
The learning itself is what matters as well as the capacity to apply it to changing life and society. We expect our students/ participants to become life-long learners in all aspects of life.
SEM College presents an alternative to mainstream degrees, standing for quality of education where the essence of learning is what is important, not the final degree itself. Overall, the degree is perceived as an award that recognizes both the inner and outer work of our participants.
At the same time, our collaboration with Bodhisastra University enables us to offer degree learning for those who need it for recognition in some societies, or situations where it is too challenging to work for social change without a proper title.
FINAL ACCREDITATION
The MA in Awakening Leadership is a not solely a knowledge-based but competent- based degree that requires a combination of coursework and project-based learning – focusing on both inner and outer work for change.
Past participants who have attended at least 75% of each learning area of the extended EDE (e.g. BLT/ ALT) have already completed the Foundational Learning Coursework, however, they still need to submit the final research project in order to receive the MA.
Independent practice has a central place. Each student defines his/her own Final Research Project – focusing both on inner work (e.g. self-learning and cultivation, drawing lessons learned meaningful to others) and outer work (e.g. theoretical Social Research or a reflective Social Action work).
The project can be formulated and developed using one or more of the subject areas covered during the Coursework, possibly in combination with any other relevant past experiences. The MA is inter-disciplinary by nature. Nevertheless, topic chosen for the final project must not only indulge student’s own individual curiosities but must demonstrate usefulness to society as a whole. It can fit in within one or more of the following areas:
- Social justice, including issues of gender, race, socio-economic status, etc.
- Human personal growth
- Community Empowerment
- Environmental sustainability
- Re-defining progress
- Eco-social enterprise
The students may carry out the thesis work as they see fit for his or her interest. The projects can be developed in their own time through individual studies, experimentation and discussion with facilitators, mentors and fellow students.
For more information, please visit the event website.
