Course descriptions
The annual offerings of the school are organised in the form of open space symposia.* One is held in June and one in September. In each session we address issues related to the themes of the courses and each year we give special attention to strategic issues transversal to all the courses.
Participants are encouraged to contribute either in the form of a paper, workshop or any other appropriate means of presenting. The courses are conducted over five days, with morning and afternoon sessions. Their pattern is flexible and will be collaboratively determined on the outset of a symposium.
It is fair to state that the main difference between the course organising director, course directors, lecturers (resource persons) and other participants is in the amount of work invested into the programme before the start of the annual symposia. Once it does start, we are all ‘students’ and ‘teachers’ at the same time. We exchange our ideas and experience in a highly participatory, very respectful, egalitarian manner. In terms of participation, we ideally look for one third faculty and researchers, one third well established, experienced professionals and one third students. Increasingly, service-users also participate in the courses and have proved to be a great asset.
The programme is offered at postgraduate level. Advanced, highly motivated undergraduate students are accepted with at least one letter of reference.
The language of the school is English.
*For more information on Open Space see:
Owen, Harrison (1977), Open Space Technology. A User’s Guide, San Francisco; Owen, Harrison, Opening Space for Emerging Order, http://www.openspaceworld.com/brief_history.htm
The Wikipedia articles on the two methods are also quite useful as an introduction
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BarCamp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Space_Technology