Regenerative Systems Design Course -- RSD Course
Rescue Earth System
The RSD Course covers a comprehensive range of subjects that are relevant the task of leading the re-development of a better world — regenerative farming, ecosystem restoration, community development, etc. — our graduates will be the leaders of the future we all want to be part of!
Regenerative Systems Design Course
Regenerative Restoration & Community Resilience
The Regenerative Systems Design Course (RSD Course) is unique in its scope. The reason for this is simple. Anyone that wishes to participate in the greatest task of our time — the regeneration of Earth’s ecosystems while simultaneously uplifting humanity — needs to have broad knowledge base and also possess a comprehensive understanding of the principles of Regenerative Systems Design.
The multidisciplinary RSD Course enables people of all ages and cultural backgrounds to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to design a thriving regenerative society on a local, bioregional and global scale.
NOTABLY: You cannot implement what you do not know!!!
Furthermore, the multi-lingual RSD Course and the third party courses cater for many levels of interest, education, cultural background, etc. from home gardeners to off-grid homesteaders to farmers and businesses to regenerative development consultants and community leaders.
For example, Level 1 of the Regenerative Systems Design Course is suitable to both novice and well educated students. At the other end of the scale, learners that have completed Advanced Diploma of the Regenerative Systems Design Course would have the knowledge and practical experience to design the regenerative development of their bioregion — and they would also qualify to study towards a MSc.
Some of the third-party elective courses offer professional qualifications in specific fields. Good examples are the Prosocial Facilitator Course, Dr Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web Consultant Course, and Permaculture Institute’s Permaculture Design Course. There will also be many short courses — available free or at a reduced price.

“Holism is a process of creative synthesis; the resulting wholes are not static, but dynamic, evolutionary, and creative. […] We are out of the bonds of the old crude mechanical ideas, and we enter an altogether new zone of ideas and categories.”
Jan Christian Smuts
South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader and philosopher.
Regenerative Systems Design Course
The Regenerative Systems Design Course is in the process of being developed. There are 16 qualifications, 5 at Certificate level and 8 at Diploma level and 3 specialist levels (Advanced Diploma (Honours level course), MSc and PhD or DSc). Each qualification has many tracks. The 16 core tracks each have 7 levels. Each track has 6 standard levels and 1 advanced diploma level and a varying number of modules. Modules are also part of many threads (categories) e.g. composting, rocket stoves, biochar, etc.
The Regenerative Systems Design Course is a blend of online content provided by international experts, plus additional reading & videos, online tutoring, and in-person practicals where participants apply what they have learnt into a Rescue Earth project of their choice. The many elective modules can be studied as standalone courses or as electives. The Advanced Diploma requires a dissertation.
Even though they have been designed to be studied together, Core Tracks and External Tracks can be studied on their own. For example someone may decide to study Regenerative Food Production & Processing from Level 1 to 6 without studying any other tracks.
Regenerative Systems Design Course Tracks
Core Tracks
[ see detailed core track outlines ]
CT1) Regenerative Food Production & Processing
CT2) Ecology & Regenerative Conservation Practices
CT3) Regeneratively Resilient Hydrological Systems
CT4) Regeneratively Resilient Infrastructure Systems
CT5) Regeneratively Resilient Building Systems
CT6) Regeneratively Resilient Energy Systems
CT7) Regenerative Natural Animal Health & Nutrition
CT8) Regenerative Natural Human Health & Nutrition
CT9) Accounting & Finance for Regenerative Resilience
CT10) Marketing & Packaging for Regenerative Resilience
CT11) Regenerative Resilience in a Sustainable Economy
CT12) Holistic Systems Design for Regenerative Resilience
CT13) Integrated Strategic Resource Management
CT14) Integrated Community Resilience & Placemaking
CT15) Holistic Design for Bioregional Communities
CT16) Leadership Development in Community Resilience
External Tracks
External Tracks cover subjects that compliment the content of the Core Tracks. Points awarded as follows: introduction level : 1 point, beginner level : 2 points, intermediate level : 3 points, advanced level : 5 points, specialist level : 10 points, master level : 20 points
External Tracks:
ET1) Building & Earthworks
ET2) Business & Economy
ET3) Carbon & Climate
ET4) Ecology & Ecosystems
ET5) Energy & Power
ET6) Farming & Food
ET7) Health & Nutrition
ET8) Nature & Wildlife
ET9) People & Places
ET10) Regenerative Design
ET11) Science & Other
ET12) Water & Weather
Practical Tracks
PTCL) Certificate Level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 :: Local Volunteer RE Projects mainly Permablitz & Community Food Garden projects.
(Modules: PTCL1, PTCL2, PTCL3, PTCL4, PTCL5)
PTDL) Diploma Level :: Community Regenerative Systems Design
360 hours of volunteering plus the two practicals for your chosen majors.
(Modules: PTDLCT1, PTDLCT2, PTDLCT3, PTDLCT4, PTDLCT5, PTDLCT6, PTDLCT7, PTDLCT8, PTDLCT9, PTDLCT10, PTDLCT11, PTDLCT12, PTDLCT13, PTDLCT14, PTDLCT15, PTDLCT16)
PTADL) Advanced Diploma Level :: Bioregional Regenerative Systems Design
Advanced Diploma Tracks
The Advanced Diploma is a prerequisite for qualifying to enroll in the MSc which will be partially sponsored by the Rescue Earth System.
CT1 to CT16 @ Level AD — all 16 Core Tracks are studied at an Advanced Diploma (AD) level. The subject matter focuses on holistically integrating the core tracks into the Regenerative Systems Design Framework.
Bioregional Project Practical — Students must use the principles of the Regenerative Systems Design Framework to design & project manage a Bioregional Volunteer RE Project. (Module: PTAD)
External Courses @ Master Difficulty — To enroll in the Advanced Diploma, the completion of a minimum 180 elective track points is required. One Master level track is required to qualify. A good example of a Master Level External Courses are Dr Elaine Ingham’s 4 Foundation Courses which are Step 1 of the Soil Food Web Consultant Course.
Dissertation — a dissertation with a focus on Regenerative Systems Design in Bioregions is required.
Qualifications
Certificate Qualifications in Regenerative Systems Design
Introduction Level Certificate in Regenerative Systems Design
Qualifies with 2 Core Tracks @ Level 1 + 2 External Track Points + 1 Practical
Prescribed Modules: CT1L1, CT2L1, PTCL1Basic Level Certificate in Regenerative Systems Design
Qualifies with 4 Core Tracks @ Level 1 + 4 External Track Points + 1 Practical
Prescribed Modules: CT1L1, CT2L1, CT3L1, CT4L1, PTCL2Foundation Level Certificate in Regenerative Systems Design
Qualifies with 6 Core Tracks @ Phase 1 + 6 External Track Points + 1 Practical
Prescribed Modules: CT1L1, CT2L1, CT3L1, CT4L1, CT5L1, CT6L1, PTCL3- Intermediate Level Certificate in Regenerative Systems Design
Qualifies with 12 Core Tracks @ Phase 1 + 8 External Track Points + 1 Practical
Prescribed Modules: CT1L1, CT2L1, CT3L1, CT4L1, CT5L1, CT6L1, CT7L1, CT8L1, CT9L1, CT10L1, CT11L1, CT12L1, PTCL4
. - Advanced Level Certificate in Regenerative Systems Design
Qualifies with 16 Core Tracks @ Phase 1 + 10 External Track Points + 1 Practical
Prescribed Modules: CT1L1, CT2L1, CT3L1, CT4L1, CT5L1, CT6L1, CT7L1, CT8L1, CT9L1, CT10L1, CT11L1, CT12L1, CT13L1, CT14L1, CT15L1, CT16L1, PTCL5
.
Holistic Design Diplomas
All Diploma Courses Qualify from:
16 Core Tracks @ Level 1
10 Core Tracks @ Level 2
8 Core Tracks @ Level 3
6 Core Tracks @ Level 4
4 Core Tracks @ Level 5
2 Core Tracks @ Level 6
plus External Tracks + Practicals
Holistic Design Diploma in:
Regenerative Food Production & Nature Conservation
Prescribed Core Tracks:
CT1 to level 6
CT2 to level 6Regenerative Hydrological & Infrastructure Systems
Prescribed Core Tracks:
CT3 to level 6
CT4 to level 6Developing Resilient Energy & EcoBuilding Systems
Prescribed Core Tracks:
CT5 to level 6
CT6 to level 6Regenerative Animal and Human Health & Nutrition
Prescribed Core Tracks:
CT7 to level 6
CT8 to level 6- Regenerative Business Principles for Sustainable Resilience
Prescribed Core Tracks:
CT9 to level 6
CT10 to level 6
- Regenerative Strategies for Building Sustainable Economies
Prescribed Core Tracks:
CT11 to level 6
CT12 to level 6
. - Integrated Strategic Resource Management & Placemaking
Prescribed Core Tracks:
CT13 to level 6
CT14 to level 6
. - Leadership Development & Bioregional Community Resilience
Prescribed Core Tracks:
CT15 to level 6
CT16 to level 6
.
Advanced Diploma
Advanced Diploma in Regenerative Systems Design
Honours Degree Level Qualification
Prescribed Core Tracks:
CT1 to CT16 at Advanced Diploma (AD) Level
.
Post Graduate Level Studies
- MSc Sustainable Food and Natural Resources (Regenerative Systems Design)
Offered by the Graduate School of the Environment
. - PhD or DSc
Offered by various Universities

Permaculture is about designing, implementing and maintaining permanent natural systems …