The undergraduate geography fieldweek: challenges and changes

Abstract

In the 1990s, undergraduate geography programmes have come under pressure to change from both internal and external forces. In part, this relates to the process of restructuring associated with the increasing trend towards modular undergraduate courses in higher education institutions in the United Kingdom. There has also been a growing emphasis on incorporating training into undergraduate degree programmes, particularly to encourage the development of transferable skills which enhance graduate employability. This paper looks at how the traditional undergraduate geography fieldweek lends itself to being reshaped and reorganised to meet the challenges of these changes. Issues are illustrated with reference to a well‐established, second‐year fieldweek to Belgium and The Netherlands.

Keywords:

• Fieldwork
• transferable skills
• fieldweek
• restructuring