Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

also economic reasons, although these may perhaps be less explicit. The decrease in thenumber of years needed to complete the first degree cycle aims to save public investmentand family expenses with the formation and training of the students.One major consequence of mobility expansion is an increase in competitiveness andconsequently differentiation on the rank attained by each university and department.Possibly we will see a relative standardization of the first degree cycle, offered in manyplaces, although certain institutions can already be differentiated by their higher qualityand a more limited and more competitive offer as soon as we progress to the higherdegrees. The best diplomas, the most desired ones are only offered by a relatively smallnumber of universities, the more central ones, the more attractive, those whose qualityis ranked higher. Having more candidates, they can demand higher tuition fees, makingmore money they may offer better human and material resources. They will also helpto propel its city to a better position in the system of cities.In this context universities, departments and even individual courses and tutorswill have to develop pro-active strategies, benchmarking practices, careful selectionof strategic bets in terms of courses offered, learning experiences, teacher’s profilesin order to attract students and reinforce their prestige and quality.In this competitive environment, Portugal’s main weakness comes from itsgeographical position and language, but the country also has some advantages tiedto the high level of research and prestige in some areas, good climate and environmentalquality, the advantageous level of prices and good relationships with southerncountries, especially Brazil and some African countries.To overcome the threats I would like to discuss the follow propositions:• The ability to offer programs not only for the Portuguese market but also whichcan interest other Europeans too. Furthermore we should consider the importantrole that Portugal can have in the qualification of African and Brazilian humanresources.• Besides its contribution to research development and knowledge diffusion, universitieshave the social responsibility of future citizen’s education and training.Thus in the curriculum organization it seems important to consider subjects withsocial relevance, like citizenship and environmental questions, housing, planningat different scales, development and community action, to enhance geography’scontribution to the understanding and solution of the problems that affect oursocieties and are more able to interest youth, and have an immediate relationshipwith job opportunities and people’s daily lives.• Another line for exploitation deals with the possibility of organising second cycleprograms in partnership with prestigious foreign institutions and the introductionof English in some courses, both in the lessons and in student assignments.Employability and competencesThe Bologna’s declaration pretends that “the first cycle diploma will be relevant tothe European labour market as an appropriate level of qualification” which raisesconfusion between ‘professionalisation’ and employability. Graduates employabilityand the competences they should have depend on their professional activity and its103