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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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(2000) cautioned an awareness of cultural differences and that there can be “noassumption of shared preconceptions”. The authors were also aware of the necessityto provide for the <strong>in</strong>clusion of local content <strong>in</strong>to a syllabus/teach<strong>in</strong>g and learn<strong>in</strong>gmaterials. Rich et al. (2000) were concerned about the possible loss of autonomywith shared courses/materials and that there may be a requirement for formal qualityassurance processes and ‘acceptable standards’ to be <strong>in</strong>troduced. Nairn et al. (2000)also identified issues with regard to fieldwork such as <strong>in</strong>tegration of the syllabus,shar<strong>in</strong>g of courses (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g staff and resources), f<strong>in</strong>ancial constra<strong>in</strong>ts on <strong>in</strong>ternationalfieldwork and safety.Although there must be an awareness of these issues outl<strong>in</strong>ed above, it is clear that<strong>in</strong>ternational collaboration br<strong>in</strong>gs significant and important benefits <strong>in</strong> enhanc<strong>in</strong>g thegeography curriculum. The benefits <strong>in</strong>clude the comparison of assessment methods,the pool<strong>in</strong>g of academic expertise and resources, the economies of scale <strong>in</strong> fieldworkand facilitat<strong>in</strong>g organisation for foreign partners. The enrichment of the staff andstudent experience through contrast<strong>in</strong>g cultural experiences and the broaden<strong>in</strong>gof European/global awareness cannot be underestimated. Graduate skills, such asproblem solv<strong>in</strong>g, team work<strong>in</strong>g, and enhanced communication skills, are developedthrough <strong>in</strong>ternational fieldwork and student mobility opportunities. Partner Further<strong>Education</strong> (FE) <strong>in</strong>stitutions have also benefited from these developments as the FEstudents have been able to jo<strong>in</strong> fieldtrips and staff have had access to resources.The learn<strong>in</strong>g and teach<strong>in</strong>g experience for staff and students is greatly enhanced forall the partner <strong>in</strong>stitutions <strong>in</strong>volved and the <strong>in</strong>ternationalisation of the geographycurriculum ultimately provides an accessible and stimulat<strong>in</strong>g learn<strong>in</strong>g environmentfor a diverse range of students.AcknowledgementsThe authors would like to thank all of their partner <strong>in</strong>stitutions that have been<strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> curriculum development, student and staff mobility programmes andfieldwork, and have played an important role <strong>in</strong> the enhancement of the geographycurriculum.References1. HAIGH M. 2002. Internationalisation of the Curriculum: design<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>clusive educationfor a small world. Journal of <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>in</strong> Higher <strong>Education</strong>, 26(1), pp. 49−66.2. KASIMOV N.S., MALKHAZOVA S.M., ROMANOVA E.P., CHALKLEY B.S. 2002.Environmental <strong>Education</strong> <strong>in</strong> Russian Universities. Journal of <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>in</strong> Higher<strong>Education</strong>, 26(2), pp. 149−157.3. NAIRN K., HIGGIT D., VANNESTE D. 2000. International Perspectives on Fieldcourses.Journal of <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>in</strong> Higher <strong>Education</strong>, 24(2), pp. 246−254.4. REEVE D., HARDWICK S., KEMP K., PLOSZAJSKA, T. 2000. Deliver<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Geography</strong>Courses Internationally. Journal of <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>in</strong> Higher <strong>Education</strong>, 24(2), pp. 228−237.5. RICH D.C., ROBINSON G., BEDNARZ, R.S. 2000. Collaboration and the SuccessfulUse of Information and Communications Technologies <strong>in</strong> Teach<strong>in</strong>g and Learn<strong>in</strong>g<strong>Geography</strong> <strong>in</strong> Higher <strong>Education</strong>. Journal of <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>in</strong> Higher <strong>Education</strong>, 24(2),pp. 263−270.290

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