Diploma Portfolio Criteria

A Permaculture Diploma process can take quite a few years for some of us. Permaculture learning is dynamic and adaptive to the surroundings, and therefore some criteria might change during your work. Basically you can follow the path and the criteria that was set when you started, but even you as an apprentice might have to adapt to a changing world sometimes 🙂 Talk to your mentor if you are unsure.

Criteria evaluated and updated: June 2024

In order to have your Diploma Portfolio assessed, the following criteria have to be met:

1. You have completed at least one approved PDC-course and you are registered as a Diploma Apprentice with the NPA. Your PDC-certificate does not have to be from the Nordic countries, but it needs to be verified by the Nordic Permaculture Academy.

2. You have a Diploma Pathway You are able to show your path from your aims and objectives for getting the diploma, to how you have accomplished it. Your diploma pathway can either be one of your ten designs, or it can be a separate guiding document for your whole diploma process. The Diploma Pathway is the path you take towards designing and living a more regenerative Permaculture lifestyle.

3. You have produced 10 designs, and demonstrated design skills which are up to required standard. And you are able to
   • Use permaculture ethics, principles and theory as appropriate to the situation.
   • Make accurate and appropriate use of intentional design processes and tools.
   • Show that you can produce designs that include land and social/economical aspects relevant to your situation
   • Show how your design work covered all the domains of the Permaculture flower. You don’t have to have a separate design for each domain within the flower, but your portfolio should cover all domains. (A design can cover more than one domain.)
   • Create designs that are intelligible, coherent and effective.
   • Choose and produce appropriate presentation and documentation methods for your portfolio.
   • Demonstrate how your work relates to your personal diploma pathway.
   • Show 10 designs that are uniquely yours.

4. You can show a list of Relevant Activities which demonstrate
   • That you have gained appropriate experience in your field of diploma work (see advice at the bottom)
   • How you have implemented permaculture in your life and work, since taking the PDC.

   • How changes you have made during the Diploma process, brings you closer to a regenerative lifestyle, in line with the Permaculture ethical framework.

   • That you have taken part in assessing designs collaboratively together with others in the NPA.
   • That you have finished a certified Permaculture Teachers Course, or equivalent (your mentor can guide you if your unsure)
   • How you have gained the appropriate experience in facilitating, teaching and spreading permaculture through courses and trainings, e.g. shadowing other Permaculture teachers, co-facilitating sessions at PDC-courses.
     
     All your training can be done within the Nordic countries but it is also possible to gain this experience outside the Nordic countries. To make it easier to assess your Diploma portfolio, we want a list of all appropriate Relevant Activities (training/experience) in chronological order.

5. You are able to reflect on your permaculture practice and learn from it. You will be able to
   • Show how you evaluate the effectiveness of your design work.
   • Reflect on your use of permaculture theory and practice, including design processes, design tools and practical skills.
   • Show how your skills and understanding have developed since completing the PDC.
   • Document your reflexive process, describing your learning development through your 10 designs. 
   • Show a clear summary of how you meet all Permaculture Diploma Criteria as well as your own personal aims and objectives from your Diploma Pathway.