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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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to gather process and store spatial data, to support the analysis of this data and togenerate geographical <strong>in</strong>formation for different purposesBut if we look deeper, the development of GIS and related GI technologies onlyhappened because of geography. The geography has provided the necessary fundamentalapproaches to gather<strong>in</strong>g geographical data, methods for analyz<strong>in</strong>g the dataand generat<strong>in</strong>g geographical <strong>in</strong>formation, spatial models etc., and the IT providedthe framework where the geography and geographers could operate more effectively.Of course GIS is not only geography and geographers are not the only competentdevelopers and users, but they should be the most prepared professionals, who canunderstand the complexity of space. That makes geography important for GIS andGIS important for the professional development of the contemporary geographer.On the other hand, the perceptions and the vision about GIS are chang<strong>in</strong>g. GIS isnot only an Information System – it is a whole branch of human activities, <strong>in</strong>tegrat<strong>in</strong>gbus<strong>in</strong>ess and science <strong>in</strong> one whole. This branch needs different k<strong>in</strong>d of specialists,but geographers could be one of the most valuable, if they have the necessary competencesto work with this technology. And the time and technology are work<strong>in</strong>g forour cause. Today GIS is not a new technology for the world – it has entered its fourthdecade. While <strong>in</strong> the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g it was very “technical”, now it is more science driven.The contemporary technology is simplify<strong>in</strong>g all the time the “<strong>in</strong>teraction” with thecomputer hardware and software and offer<strong>in</strong>g more and more opportunities for theuser to operate with the artificial (digital) geographical environment. This could makethe geographer the “right” constructor and manager of this environment.The place of GI <strong>in</strong> geography curricula across EuropeTo study the actual statement of GIS <strong>in</strong> geography programs at the European universities,about 350 geography departments from 32 countries from Eastern and WesternEurope were reviewed. About 230 of those departments (or 65.6 %) recognise GISas ma<strong>in</strong> research and teach<strong>in</strong>g area. This is demonstrates that academic geography<strong>in</strong> Europe counts GIS as a very important geographic subject. The percentage variesacross the cont<strong>in</strong>ent, but we can group the countries <strong>in</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g major groups:• Countries with a small number of geography programs, but where all departmentsrecongnise GIS as one of the ma<strong>in</strong> research and teach<strong>in</strong>g areas. In that groupare Greece (4 departments), Denmark (3 departments), Estonia (1 department),Serbia and Montenegro (2 departments), Slovak Republic (2 departments), Malta(1 department).• Countries with a big number of geography programs and high percentage ofprograms, where GIS is recognized as one of the major areas. Among thosecountries are UK (from 73 reviewed programs, <strong>in</strong> 68% GIS is recognized asmajor field), Germany (83 programs; 58%).• Countries with a relatively high number geography programs (more than 10) withhigh percentage of programs, where GIS is recognized as one of the major areas.Most countries are <strong>in</strong> this group, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the Czech Republic, Netherlands,France, Norway, Spa<strong>in</strong> etc.128

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