Student Preparation for the International Environmental Profession

Abstract

Many universities have strategies for exposing students to international experiences, but little is reported on their implementation. One example of an implemented activity is the multidisciplinary research project for undergraduate environment students, at RMIT University, that both prepares students to work in the environment profession and exposes them to working in an international context. Feedback from project participants demonstrates that the project has played an important part in their preparation for professional employment. Responses demonstrated that the project provided a mechanism to prepare them for working in an international context regarding cultural awareness, and especially preparation for the many professional and personal challenges that may be encountered.

Keywords:

• Multidisciplinary
• problem-based
• professional
• international

Acknowledgements

Participation in our survey by the graduates who had been involved in the Vietnam projects has been critical to the production of this paper and is gratefully acknowledged. Equally appreciated are the detailed comments of the three anonymous reviewers; these have been important in helping to finalize the paper. Many thanks are also due to Kathryn Hegarty for her insights concerning curriculum issues.

Notes

¹ The bulk of the data come from literature and internet-based sources and the material covered in these meetings – fieldwork can be difficult to organize and undertake in the short time available.

² Many Vietnamese in these organizations have good abilities in English language so while communication may take longer there have been few occasions when a translator has been necessary.