Fieldwork in the undergraduate geography programme: challenges and changes

Abstract

The paper provides a critical commentary on issues facing fieldwork in undergraduate geography programmes in the 1990s, with particular reference to the UK but with many principles applicable to other areas of fieldwork provision, for example in North America and Europe. Issues are structured around five key themes: aims and objectives, skill acquisition, relationship to other areas of curricula, fieldwork delivery and fieldwork management. Through discussion of key points, the paper introduces the five contributions within the symposium collection, which provide new perspectives on fieldwork planning, delivery and management and encourage different ways of approaching fieldwork activities.