Preparing for sustainable futures: A short Course

Would you like to study a degree, but need to gain skills or confidence?

Would you like to explore how climate change is affecting the world and how you can respond?

Would you like to learn with a diverse group of people and think about what comes next in your life?

Who are we?

Black Mountains College: a new college in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, Wales. We deliver a range of courses all to help create a future where nature and humans thrive. BMC focuses on the challenge of our times: how to build a fair and just society within safe planetary boundaries. We are collaborating with a range of partners to make sure this course reaches a wide range of people, including mental health organisation, Mind. 

What is it? 

Preparing for Sustainable Futures is a short course that introduces a range of skills required for study at degree level, with a particular emphasis on knowledge required to study in the field of ecology, arts and sustainable development. 

What will you learn? 

You will have a chance to reflect on your own approach to learning; use creative practice to learn in new ways; build confidence by gaining new skills, such as communication and digital literacy; reflect on your interests and talents, as well as future priorities; and find ways to build your personal resilience and take action towards positive futures, by developing an understanding of ecology, people, societies, and technology. 

How will I learn? 

You will learn through participating in live sessions, accessing podcasts, videos and readings, and through one-to-one tutorials. There will be seminar-type sessions, alongside learning through doing and creative activities, personal development, as well as outdoor learning. 

There will be 7 weekly meetings: in the form of a 2-hr online session or day-long in-person session. There will be a break over the Christmas period, and you will complete the course with an assessment in January 2025.  

We will be running two cohorts and you can choose which times and locations work best for you. 

Is it accredited? 

Yes, the short course is accredited by Cardiff Metropolitan University. It is worth 20 credit points at Level 4 (equivalent to first-year undergraduate level). You can put the credits towards a longer award, or use them for professional development. 

How is it assessed? 

You will complete 2 assessments: a 1,000-word written reflection giving your thoughts on an informal group presentation you have participated in, and a 1,500-word written assignment based on a draft on which you have received feedback. You do not need to have any prior experience of academic writing, and the format of the assessment is designed to help you develop relevant skills for degree-level study. 

How much does it cost? 

The course is entirely free and there will be several bursaries available for those students that require extra support to allow them to participate: e.g. for travel and/or childcare. When you apply, you will be asked if you need a bursary, and may need to provide evidence of your circumstances. You need to live or work in Powys to be able to access the bursary. 

Who will teach?  

Ali Taherzadeh will be the main tutor for the course, with invited speakers. Ali is a facilitator, community activist, and researcher specialising in sustainable food systems. As a facilitator they are passionate about creating opportunities for transformative peer-to-peer learning, nature connection, and learning through practical action. Ali has a broad range of teaching experience across different contexts and recognises that everyone learns in different ways and has unique strengths to bring to a learning setting. They promote a caring and empathetic approach aimed at building confidence and developing supportive group relationships. 

Is it really for me? 

This course is designed to make the BMC degree accessible to a wide range of people, with different experiences and backgrounds. You may wish to take the short course to test out if BMC or studying a degree is the right option for you, or you may take it as a first step back into education after a gap. You can access one-to-one support before and during the course if you feel you need extra help. 

When is it? 

Cohort A: Location of in-person sessions: Newtown 

Session 1 (online): 10am –12pm Tuesday 26th Nov 

Session 2 (in-person): 10am – 4pm Tuesday 3rd Dec 

Session 3 (online): 10am –12pm Tuesday 10th Dec 

Session 4 (in-person): 10am – 4pm Tuesday 17th Dec 

Christmas break 

Session 5 (online): 10am –12pm Tuesday 7th Jan  

Session 6 (in-person): 10am – 4pm Tuesday 14th Jan 

Session 7 (online): 10am –12pm Tuesday 4th Feb 

Cohort B: Location of in-person sessions: Brecon  

Session 1 (online): 7-9pm Wednesday 20th Nov 

Session 2 (in-person): 10am – 4pm Saturday 30th Nov 

Session 3 (online): 7-9pm Wednesday 4th Dec 

Session 4 (in-person): 10am – 4pm Saturday 14th Dec 

Session 5 (online): 7-9pm Wednesday 18th Dec 

Christmas break 

Session 6 (in-person): 10am – 4pm Saturday 18th Jan 

Session 7 (online): Wednesday 29th Jan 

For more information and how to apply 

You can request a phone conversation or online meeting with the course coordinator to gain more information, please email mailto:events@blackmountainscollege.uk. 

If you are ready to apply then please complete this simple form. Places are limited and we will get back to confirm your place. Please apply before the 10th of November. 

*Please note that the minimum age is 18 for this course*

APPLY FOR FREE HERE

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supported by Powys County Council.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus*