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= Gaia University =

Gaia University (also known as Gaia U) is an international, online ecoveristy created in 2006, by Andrew Langford and Liora Adler, with the intention of training students in leadership for ecological and social recovery of the planet.

Gaia University’s curriculum centres around the concept of ‘ecosocial regeneration’. This refers to the idea that the fusing of environmental conscientiousness with social factors (community, economics, family, spirituality, and beliefs) is essential for the successful recovery of the planet from its current state of crisis. Additionally, Gaia University offers an alternative to the traditional teaching models of higher education via the methodology of Transformational Action Learning and Research.

As a result of being an alternative form of higher education, the ecoversity is not government accredited but has found alternative accreditation in the UK and New Zealand. However, the quality of said accreditation may be questionable. As a result of not being government accredited, and Gaia University’s own wishes to avoid government bias, they are also not government-funded and thus require alternative means of finance including, but not limited to, donations and self-funding.

Gaia U
Gaia University is a global, online ecoveristy centred on the idea of ‘ecosocial regeneration’. At Gaia University an emphasis is put on unlearning damaging economical, political, and societal norms. This is done through a curriculum of learning and then real-life application of theory onto the students’ chosen projects. As of 2010, there were approximately 100 students attending Gaia University.

The university aims to help students achieve buen vivir. Buen vivir (originally known as Sumak Kawsay) is a hegemonic ideology translating to English as ‘good living’. This refers to the prioritisation of community, culture, and environment. Similar to Gaia University's own concept of ‘ecosocial regeneration’. Through their ecoversity they hope to create a network of learners and professional leaders.

History
Gaia University was co-founded by Andrew Langford and Liora Adler in May 2006. Both Langford and Adler have a long history in the fields of permaculture and ecovillages and sought to develop this into an education scheme.

In 1998 the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) wanted to create their own Gaia University in Denmark. However, by 2004 this was exchanged for the training program Gaia Education. This would be based in mainstream universities and offered as a module on social communications, spirituality, and ecological sustainability. After meeting at the 2004 Findhorn Ecovillage Educators Meeting, Adler and Langford both wanted to accelerate the Gaia Education movement via degree students who would pay fees. In order to do this they gained accreditation from the quality assurance scheme IMCA (International Association of Management Professionals) Socrates® and from there Gaia University, the online ecoveristy, was created.

The Name
Gaia University was named in honour of James Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis, which is an integral theory for Gaia University. ‘Gaia’ is also derived from the Mycenaean Greek culture, meaning ‘mother-nature’, which is derived from its predecessor the Minoans. The Minoans are significant to Gaia University’s ethos as they were an indigenous group in Europe who coexisted with nature in peace and harmony, providing an exemplar for better living.

Ecoversity
Gaia University is an example of an ecoverisity. Ecoversities are alternative universities focused on re-defining higher education into a system that prioritises environmentalism and rich human experience. The ecoversities aim to change the ‘unsutainable and unjust economic, political and social systems/mindsets that dominate the planet.’

The existence of ecoveristies provide students with a richer understanding of their field in a sustainable way, whilst addressing the socio-political issue of climate change and sustainability. In addition to this ecoversities, such as Gaia University, provide an exemplar and framework from which other universities can model to be more sustainable.

Curriculum
Gaia University’s curriculum aims to provide students with knowledge on ecological conscientiousness and social justice. This is encapsulated in their philosophy of ‘ecosocial regeneration’, referring to the necessity to fuse environmental conscientiousness with social factors (community, economics, family, spirituality, and beliefs) in order to repair the planet from crisis.

Gaia University offers basic free courses, introductory certificates, diplomas, and degrees. The university uses a project-based system of learning which allows for greater experience in the field as well as greater flexibility which would not be present in a traditional university.

Online
Gaia University’s use of online learning enables the curriculum to be open to students regardless of location, thus reaching a wider audience. In addition, Clark-Ibenez and Scott (2008) found students enjoyed the greater flexibility and anonymity provided by online classes. Learning online also helps reduce the hidden cost of higher education such as the money for transport.

However, such flexibility allows for students to fall behind in their studies more easily than if they were attending physical classes. In contrast to Clark-Ibenez and Scott’s (2008) claims, Bergstrand and Savage (2013) found students rated online classes lower than traditional classes in learning comprehension, teaching effectiveness, and overall comparison. The overall consensus of online classes is very mixed. While Tucker (2001) suggested online universities created better results, Urtlel 2008 suggested the opposite, and Means’ (2009) meta-analysis found no significant difference in results of traditional classes or online classes.

Gaia University do clearly state that their course will be greatly self-directed and thus it is at the discretion of the student to decide whether online learning is the best fit for them.

Methodology
Gaia U’s main methodology is called Transformational Action Learning and Research. This is a mixture of two already pre-existing methodologies:


 * Transformative learning
 * Action research.

Simply put this encapsulates the idea of learning through personal experimentation and reflection. This is implemented through their project-based learning structure and their encouragement of self-reflection (evidenced in the project requirement for self-analysis).

Action research has been praised as a methodology that empowers students and teaching practitioners to work collaboratively to find suitable solutions to problems and actively transform the knowledge bases of all parties involved.

However, Gaia University’s use of action research has been criticised for not truly being action research. Thomas (2008) instead suggested that although they supported their students well, it was not enough to provide and coordinate their degree programs in a way that aligns with the principles of action research. Despite this, Thomas (2008) praised the use of guilds (groups of associates/students who reflect on their work together) for their role in transformative learning.

Accreditation
Due to being an alternative university, Gaia University is not accredited by any government. Instead, they are accredited by International Management Centres (IMC) of the UK and New Zealand. This accreditation board is focused on action learning (the methodology that is used at Gaia University).

Additionally, they formerly had accreditation in the USA via Revans University and IMCA Socrates®, both institutions of action learning. However, as of February, 2005 both Revan’s University and IMCA’s (International Management Centres Association) accreditation was removed by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) Accrediting Commission. This accreditation is limited by its minimal geographical reach, only being present in two countries. The lack of government accreditation limits the applicability of the courses but Gaia University's prioritisation of transferable skills and project-based experience offers an alternative skill set.

Costs


In order to avoid the government interference/bias that arises with government funding, Gaia University is not financially supported by any government. The course fees allow for learning practitioners to have a liveable wage whilst they share their already existing knowledge and cultivate new knowledge. The average yearly cost of one of their degrees is $9850. In comparison with countries’ fees for traditional university courses, this works out as not the cheapest option but also not the most expensive. The UK for example is more expensive with a figure of approximately $12,330 annually, meanwhile countries such as Japan, Canada and Chile charge less than Gaia Univeristy.

However, as mentioned under the online subheading, studies have shown that the quality of online education may be less than that of traditional education. Thus, making their pricing less comparable to traditional courses. In addition to this, students at Gaia University do not have the same access to physical facilities that would be provided at a traditional university.

Without government funding, the burden of paying falls on the students. For some extraordinary students full scholarships may be granted by the university. But it is more likely students will either be provided with a partial scholarship or simply be advised and supported in finding alternative means to finance their degree. In the case that a student receives a scholarship they will be expected to contribute back to Gaia University via work for the university, such as in outreach programs.