Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

ments used, at the various levels, for professional development. The final discussionwill be about the mutually reinforcing effects of the policies at the various levels,as well as about some of the opportunities and threats for professional developmentin the future.a) University level: the Centre of Excellence in University TeachingIn 2000 the university formed the Centre of Excellence in University Teaching(CEUT). Each year about fifteen promising teachers with a (future) role in managementare selected from nominations by the deans of all faculties. The CEUT-traininglasts one and a half years, with monthly 24 hour meetings, an individual project andtwo study trips abroad.The idea is that the participants will function as boosters of innovation, and applytheir skills in their management functions. Three members of the department ofHuman Geography and Planning have attended this course so far. Their individualprojects have been about the improvement of the course evaluation system, the setupof an academic Masters, and the introduction of timesaving assignments (forteachers). According to their experience they really can play a key role in innovationand management. The multidisciplinary character of the CEUT course group ishighly appreciated, especially the exchange of experiences and the sharing of dailyproblems in so called intervision groups.b) Faculty level: Honours programmeAs one of the leading faculties in the Netherlands an honours programme wasintroduced in 1997 for students with ambition and good results (see Wolfensberger,Van Eijl and Pilot 2004). For this group of students the standard curriculum is notchallenging enough, and leaves enough time for extra courses. Within a frameworkof regular meetings, supervised by a staff member who is coordinating the HonoursProgram, students organise and attend four extra courses or workshops each year. Atthe end of their bachelors program they get a testimonial on this. Before the honoursprogram started we had the impression that some of the best students switched toother studies; now we keep them on board, and some of them go on to do their PhDafter graduation. The honours program provides an opportunity for teachers to launchnew methods or subjects to an interested audience. Vice versa the motivated group ofhonours program students have sometimes indicated that some elements or subjectsare missing from the basic curriculum.c) Level of the School of Human Geography and Planning: Yearly staff meetingEvery year in February the curriculum for the next academic year is discussed on‘Teaching and Learning Day’, organised outside the university buildings. On thisday all kinds of practical information is provided, but most of the day consists ofworkshops, dedicated to several themes. The social element (drinks and dinner)is also important. Almost all the staff is present, accompanied by about fifteenstudents who participate in the management team and several committees dealingwith education.185