ABOUT US
SUSTAINABILITY IS OUR APPROACH
MISSION
The Future School is an international education project focused on sustainability. Our programs are dedicated to the development and implementations of strategies that address the challenges facing our global community.
Through an holistic, inclusive and trans-disciplinary approach, students engage in dynamic critical thinking, resulting in greater awareness and understanding of the problems affecting the future of our planet.
We offer academic study abroad programs and special interest cultural study tours, workshops, and service learning projects. Our programs are designed to welcome a wide variety of students, groups and communities. We maintain strong connections with universities, NGOs, private companies and government entities globally, to provide our students with opportunities to collaborate on significant impact initiatives.
VALUES
Base the teaching/learning experience on integrity, ethics, and respect.
Foster empathy and understanding by attracting students from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Nurture curiosity and inquiry.
Focus on sustainability through individual lifestyle approaches, production techniques, consumer awareness, and community and corporate social responsibility.
Challenge the status quo and encourage positive actions.
Practice learning by doing.
PURPOSE
Provide an international venue employing diverse faculty, professionals, practitioners, and communities to engage students in meaningful studies, research and actions.
Bring to the forefront of education outstanding international research, products, ideas, and policies.
Develop relevant theme-based programming that addresses the challenges facing the world community.
Inspire students to apply knowledge towards the greater benefit of the world and demonstrate that everyone has the potential to effect change.
OUR HISTORY
The Future School (TFS), founded and directed by Dana Bartelt in 2014, is the culmination of her over 30 years of initiating and directing successful study abroad programs. “Too often we’re stuck in our habits and self-imposed limitations. The Future School is a place to break free of ingrained ideas; a safe and exciting environment where both inspiration and aspiration can flourish,” says Dana.
Within months of the 1989 Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, Ms Bartelt started a pioneer summer study abroad program to present to future generations the richness of intercultural exchange in Prague. In 2005, under her leadership, the summer program evolved to an all-year branch of North Carolina State University–The Prague Institute–where she was acting Director until 2014 when she founded The Future School. TFS fulfills Ms Bartelt’s goals to provide students with essential and innovative learning tools and applications to foster creativity and positive action with a sustainability focus.
In 2016, Ms. Bartelt chose Chile to start the Climate Change Advocacy program, given the climate variety and visible consequences throughout the country. During her research visits to establish the program, she met the designer and explorer Francisco Martínez.
Before studying Industrial Design at the Universidad de Chile, Mr. Martínez developed explorations to remote areas and the high mountains of the Chilean Andes, and began his commitment with natural environments and the observation of culture and orography. Mr. Martínez has worked independently, with design studios, and with diverse cultures across South-America, in underdeveloped regions such as Amazonia and the Atacama Desert.
Through research and prior collaborations, the The Future School team works with the best academics and practitioners in their fields as Instructors, Advisors, and Mentors to build unique programming seeking actions on the important issues, and cultivating the arts.
