Abstract: A set of candidates and one or more mentors can be enrolled in a cohort for a cycle. A set of loops can be conducted within the cycle. Each loop can end with a focus period. The focus period can be a continuous period of time that the cohort spends interacting face-to-face at a common geospatial location. Candidate performance can be evaluated at each loop. During this evaluation, a set of at least one of the candidates can be selectively permitted to continue to participate in the cycle while a different set is not permitted to continue. The evaluating can be performed based at least in part on candidate specific evaluation metrics provided by each of the one or more mentors. A postgraduate degree can be granted to each candidate responsive to and contingent upon successful completion of the cycle by the candidate.