WHEN:
Monday 9 – Friday 20 June, 2025
TUTORS:
Jenny Mackewn, Satish Kumar, Stephan Harding, plus special contributors
VENUE:
Dartington Trust, South Devon
Please note: some sessions will take place in the evenings. You can email shortcourses@dartington.org for more information about the course schedule
AGE SUITABILITY:
PRICING (Bursaries are available):
COURSE FEE WITH ACCOMMODATION £1995
Includes all breakfasts, lunches, suppers, field trips, materials and all teaching from supper on the day of your arrival through until the lunchtime before your departure. Accommodation is included from the day your course starts to check-out on the morning of the day the course ends. (More info about accommodation can be found below.)
COURSE FEE WITHOUT ACCOMMODATION £1395
Includes lunches and suppers Monday to Friday, field trips, materials and all teaching
(Or secure your place with a £150 deposit)
About this course
Led by Jenny Mackewn, with special contributors and teachers, this is a unique course introducing you to inspiring teachers and thinkers supporting you to develop your own personal leadership qualities and achieve your goals.
An eight-month journey that consists of:
- A period of preparation
- A residential intensive
- An 8 month community of practice through Virtual or Face-to-Face meeting
“I found a deep connection to myself and my true aspirations and values via the great facilitation provided by Jenny and the fantastic visiting professionals and the inspiring content”
– Hege Saebjornsen, Head of Sustainability, IKEA
Programme Summary
Join us for an eight-month learning adventure that consists of a period of preparation, an intensive residential at Schumacher College and a subsequent community of practice group which meets by Skype or face-to-face meetings.
This is an opportunity to develop leadership and facilitation skills necessary for a fairer and more sustainable world for all of us.
The programme, which leads to the Schumacher Certificate in Leadership and Facilitation, has five interconnected approaches to leading and facilitating change in groups, organisations, communities and in the wider field:
- A new model of leadership and facilitation – especially designed to meet the challenges of an increasingly volatile, unpredictable and complex (or VUCA) world
- Skills – we develop our leadership and facilitation skills through immersive learning and
- The magic of practice – by practicing our leadership and facilitation skills during the intensive residential process and applying them in real life during eh 8-month community of practice
- Getting to know inspiring leaders – who embody and bring to life the skills of the new leadership and facilitation
- An understanding of Theory-U – and how it informs and inspires new leadership
Who is the course for
This course is for leaders, managers, facilitators, politicians and change agents from all sectors who wish to develop their leadership and facilitation skills in the service of life on earth, within a variety of settings such as groups, teams, organisations, communities and the wider field.
Full Programme Details
Before the Intensive Residential, a Period of Preparation:
Shortly after registering, one of the programme leaders will call you to help you:
Identify tangible projects which you are already leading and facilitating
Clarify issues and areas where you dream of taking a lead
Find books or DVDs, YouTube films or TED talks to read, watch or listen to in preparation
You will also be asked to complete a questionnaire to encompass your needs as much as possible in our final planning for the programme.
An intensive residential Monday 9 – Friday 20 June, 2025
The intensive residential explores the skills needed for taking a lead in the volatile, uncertain, complex world in which we now live. We understand the relevance of continuous and immersive learning for the leaders of today; we find out how to rapidly prototype; we create common ground; we learn to implement with fierce resolve and deep humility; we discover how to actively collaborate with nature; and how to sustain our resolve – even when the going gets tough. Throughout we are attending to letting go of the past – in order to sense and ‘Let Come’ the new.
We have time together as a group, time with our lead tutor and our special guest contributors, time on the land with nature, time to develop our ideas and above all time to practice. See a Walk Through The Week for details of the residential intensive.
The 8-month community of practice invites you to:
Apply the skills you have learnt to your everyday or professional life
Continue to develop the areas in which you are already taking a lead (or dreaming of taking a lead)
Initiate new projects that you feel called to
Maintain practices of inquiry, collaboration and co-creation by meeting in small groups (virtual or face-to-face)
The Schumacher Certificate in Leadership & Facilitation is awarded to people who:
- Complete the Residential Intensive
- Participate in the Community of Practice and
- Create ways to Show their Story of Taking a Lead in the Service of the Future
Previous groups have created reports, stories, films, collages, cartoon strips, animations, computer games and apps for mobile phones. The world is your oyster.
The 12-day Residential Intensive
The course starts with everyone gathering at lunchtime for the first of many delicious vegetarian meals. We meet members of the College community; we discover the beautiful old buildings of Schumacher College and the attractive gardens, woods and forests which surround the College. We are introduced to the flow of the week and we explore what we mean by leadership with Jenny Mackewn.
We also identify a breakthrough question for ourselves – in order to help us focus on how to apply the course to ourselves and to both our professional and personal lives.
Over the coming days we will be introduced by Jenny to a new Model of Leadership and we explore all aspects of this unique Leadership Model both intellectually and experientially. We practice Speaking Inspirationally and make a field trip to sea or moor.
Together with a selection of Special Contributors we will explore the macrocosm of the universe and the microcosm of our own dreams by considering and flipping the dilemmas which will inevitably arise/emerge as we try to make progress on our chosen path; how to sustain energy and commitment even when the going gets tough.
Jenny Mackewn introduces us to different ways of Conceptualizing, Leading and Facilitating groups and explains leadership and facilitation projects.
The course also includes an immersive learning journey – a mini Vision or Purpose Quest which enables us to connect deeply to nature, to sharpen our sense of purpose and to Let Go our past mindsets and to Let Come our future.
As the second week draws to a conclusion we start designing our community of practice (the next 8 months) and our final reunion called a Creative Feast – to which participants return in person or virtually – to tell the story of how they have applied their learning at Schumacher to the real world and taken action (however modest) in the service of a better, fairer and more sustainable world.
Please note: some sessions will take place in the evenings. You can email shortcourses@dartington.org for more information about the course schedule
typical schedule for short courses
- Check-in to the room is between 3-3.45pm on the day of arrival. Check-out is 11am on the day of departure, although if travelling by public transport, luggage can be left at the Welcome Centre until the course has completed.
- Teaching generally begins at 4pm on the first day and ends at 2pm Fridays or 4pm Sunday (whichever is the last day of the course).
- The daily timetable can start at 9.30am and end around 9.15pm, with free time available at set times throughout the day.
- For residential participants breakfast is included, followed by a morning gathering and community work groups on weekdays, which are open to all participants and the college community. Non-residential participants can pay extra if they wish to have breakfast on one or more of the days.
- Lunch for all participants is between 1-2pm and supper is 6.30-7.30pm (both meals are included in the residential and non-residential course fee).
If you have any questions about your course schedule please contact shortcourses@dartington.org
OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY
Our courses are part of the wider Learning programme at Dartington, and you will join a community of students on site studying at Schumacher College and Dartington Arts School as well as other short course participants, volunteers and visitors.
While you are here we invite you to take part in our learning community life by attending morning meetings, taking part in activities such as meal preparation and clearing, and evening social events. This is entirely voluntary, but participants tell us that taking part adds to their experience at Dartington.
![short course community lunch short course community lunch](https://www.dartington.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/short-course-community-lunch.jpg)
TEACHERS
![Jenny Mackewn](https://www.dartington.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Jenny-Mackewn.jpg)
Jenny Mackewn
Jenny Mackewn is a Creative Catalyst who designs and leads innovative learning programmes and co-creative events. She has recently initiated a Masters programme in Transformative Organisational Development (for Middlesex University): A leadership programme in Co-creating the Future (at Schumacher College) and a Focused Training in Constellations and Systemic Embodied Coaching (with ICF Accreditation). She is developing a set of programmes in Holistic Business Development and Leadership for the Earth for Schumacher College and the Dartington Estate.
![Satish Kumar](https://www.dartington.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Satish-Kumar.jpg)
Satish Kumar
Satish is a former monk and long-term peace and environment activist. He has been quietly setting the Global Agenda for change for over 50 years. He was just nine when he left his family home to join the wandering Jains and 18 when he decided he could achieve more back in the world, campaigning for land reform in India and working to turn Gandhi’s vision of a renewed India and a peaceful world into reality. Read More
![Stephan Harding](https://www.dartington.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Stephan-Harding.jpg)
Stephan Harding
Stephan was one of the founding members of Schumacher College, and led and lectured on the college’s MSc Holistic Science for nearly two decades - teaching on the core models of the programme, as well as on several short courses at the College. Stephan holds a doctorate in behavioural ecology from the University of Oxford. He has been involved in ecological field research in Zimbabwe, Venezuela and Costa Rica, where he was Visiting Professor in Wildlife Management at the National University. Stephan is author of Animate Earth as well as Gaia Alchemy and Poems of Lorca: Courting the Dawn, translated with Martin Shaw. Read More
accommodation
We recommend that if possible, you stay on-site during your course. All our courses are best experienced holistically: through studying, relaxing, eating and staying with other course participants, volunteers, staff and tutors.
When you book your course with accommodation this includes one of our hostel-style single rooms with shared facilities and easy access to your main learning space. They are the perfect base to rest your head, relax and recharge. You can find out more about the rooms here.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included throughout the duration of the course, each made with fresh, locally-sourced produce by our award-winning team.
Accommodation is available at a discounted rate for course attendees, and on a first come, first served basis only. Choose this option by selecting ‘Course Fee Plus Accommodation’ at checkout.
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optional: upgrade to a courtyard room
It is also possible, subject to availability, to upgrade your accommodation to a single or double en-suite bedroom in our beautiful and historic courtyard. Upgrade pricing is as follows:
For courses starting before 1/9/2023
- Single room with en-suite bathroom: additional £27.25 per night
- Double room with en-suite bathroom is an additional £43.60 per night
For courses starting on or after 1/9/2023
- Single room with en-suite bathroom: additional £31.07 per night
- Double room with en-suite bathroom is an additional £49.70 per night
If you would like to upgrade, please first book with residential option included, and then contact our Guest Services team on 01803 847150 or email guestservices@dartingtonhall.com to check availability. Our Guest Services department is open daily, 8am–8pm.
Should you decide to upgrade to our en-suite accommodation, please be aware that this is 20 min walk, or 3 min drive, to the Old Postern site, where some of our courses are held. There is car parking available near to all venues on the estate.
OPTIONAL: STAY ON OUR CAMPSITE
You may like to stay on our beautiful and relaxing campsite, amidst the stunning rolling hills and ancient woodlands of Dartington. Find out more about the campsite here.
Should you decide to stay on the campsite, please be aware that this is 10 min walk, to either Schumacher College or Dartington Hall, where our courses are held. There is car parking available near to all venues on the estate.
Book now
Begin your online booking below. You will receive an e-ticket for this event. You are welcome to email us at shortcourses@dartington.org or call us at 01803 847008 with any queries you have. Full Short Course T&Cs can be found here >
If you place a deposit, you will be contacted by us four weeks before the course start date to pay the outstanding balance. You will also be contacted with full details about the course before you arrive.
Please note that in most cases bookings for all our Short Courses close at midday on the Thursday before the course begins. This enables us to give you the best possible course experience and ensures all bookers receive the relevant course materials before they arrive.