The Sustainability Institute is a non-profit trust, founded in 1999. An international living and learning centre focussing on studies and experience in ecology, community and spirit, we work in partnership with the School of Public Management and Planning, University of Stellenbosch in the following areas of  education (Masters and PhD degrees in Sustainable Development Planning and Sustainable Agriculture), Early Childhood Development, Community Development Practice and Management, project facilitation to establish Sustainable Neighbourhood Developments in various localities,policy research in the sustainable development sector. The Institute is located in the Lynedoch EcoVillage, a place where we have provided development facilitation to create a space for sustainable living and learning.

Masters Students Meet Mayor and Rector

Masters students working with the Sustainability Institute and the Stellenbosch University's Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies met with the Stellenbosch Mayor and University of Stellenbosch Rector this Friday to introduce their research which will be focussing on renewable energy futures for Stellenbosch. The Sustainable Stellenbosch Research Group (based at the Sustainability Institute and partly funded with bursaries from the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies) is made up of a number of MPhil students whose research is promoting sustainability in Stellenbosch, from animal traction and local food economies to solar water heaters and solar roof tiles.

Masters Students Meeting the Mayor and Rector

From left to right: Jaco du Toit, Ben Mokheseng, Prof Russell Botman, Mayor Patrick Swartz and Thumakele Gosa.

International Food Policy Research Institute

The International Food Policy Research Institute, which is based in Washington D.C., convened a workshop of 14 researchers  from Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. All these researchers deal with the linkages between health, food security, migration, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods and community development. Facilitated by the Sustainability Institute, the purpose of this workshop was to enable these African researchers to gain a deeper understanding of sustainability, and the implications for their own research. The discussions were wide ranging, touching on many of the most difficult challenges facing communities in Africa. Network relations were established and the Sustainability Institute was able to deepen and widen its networks in Africa.

Masters Research Projects for 2009

During the course of this week 26 students participated in the Research Methodology Workshop to prepare them for their research activities over the coming year. All these students have graduated from the BPhil in Sustainable Development Planning and Management. After the Research Workshop they will register for the MPhil in Sustainable Development Planning and Management. For most of them this involves the writing up of a major research-based thesis usually combining a literature-based conceptual framework, followed by an empirical application. However, some have selected the options open to them, including doing two or four electives with a shorter thesis, while some have selected the alternatives to a thesis that are available, namely journal articles or a major Project Proposal (using the Logical Framework Analysis format). Most will graduate in March/April 2010. Significantly, only a quarter will be doing their research on a full-time basis. For a brief summary of the exciting range of research topics that have been selected by the students and which relate to many of the biggest challenges in sustainable development today, then...

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