The Master's programme Industrial Ecology is jointly organised by Leiden University and Delft University of Technology. - With their holistic approach to creating a sustainable society, ecovillages can demonstrate the multidimensional challenges that mainstream society will face when aspiring to accomplish similar decrease in environmental impact. In ecovillages, the inhabitants attempt to implement a new paradigm of sustainability, community and empowerment, they can therefore give insight into the human dimensions of a sustainable society. The experiences of ecovillages with new types of governance structures, decision-making methods and tools for communication and collaboration seem important to societal and sustainability transitions.