Phenomenon based learning provides a platform and logic to establish bridges between academia and society. The phenomenon based learning in farms and communities has provided the basis for an agroecology course from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences since the year 2000. Students and teachers work on ‘open cases’ in order to identify current limitations and future opportunities. This strategy uses real life solutions from farms and communities where neither the students nor the teachers are a priori aware of the solution. Using social and natural science methods, each group examines the social, economic and environmental dimensions of the system. Subsequently, the students design and evaluate future scenarios and action plans, which constitute a solid basis for responsible action in future projects in education and development fields.