Although graduate programs typically prepare university students well for research activity, many have been less successful in educating for other aspects of academic careers. This article discusses Iain Hay's "Letter to a New University Teacher," which has been used internationally to help new lecturers beginning their career.…

The Australian federal government is preparing a new higher education quality assurance framework under the leadership of the recently established Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). Groundwork for this framework included a major national demonstration project to develop outcome-based graduate standards in a selected range of…

Effective teaching about many of the geographical issues now confronting Earth and humanity requires collective approaches and shared solutions. It follows, therefore, that there is a need to better understand the basis of and process for sustaining successful international collaboration among geography educators. This paper first examines some of…

This paper offers a critical review of the role of the International Network for Learning and Teaching geography in higher education (INLT) in the production of geographical knowledge. Through an examination of the Network's membership and activities, it explores some of the ways in which INLT--as a global virtual group--may be inadvertently…

This article examines the role and purpose of community engagement as a learning and teaching strategy within higher education geography. It explores different interpretations of the concept of community engagement and illustrates different examples of this kind of learning through six case studies drawn from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and…

Postgraduate education in geography, especially at the Master's level, is undergoing significant changes in the developed world. There is an expansion of vocationally oriented degree programmes, increasing recruitment of international students, integration of workplace skills, and the engagement of non-traditional postgraduate students as…

Speaking at a conference is a vital way of summarizing your work for others; of positioning yourself as a person working in a particular field; and of receiving feedback on your work from colleagues. In this "Directions", we suggest: reasons for speaking at a conference; characteristics of an effective presentation; strategies for preparation…

Discusses the purpose, design, implementation, and value of an issues-based role play exercise in a first year Australian university undergraduate topic. Explains that the exercise requires students to consider implications for environment, economy, and culture of a large-scale tourist development on Rarotonga (Cook Islands). (CMK)

Introduces the symposium, "International Perspectives on Learning and Teaching in Geography in Higher Education," presented in this journal issue. Discusses the background on how this symposium was created and highlights each of the papers included. (CMK)

Focuses on the International Network for Learning and Teaching (INLT) Geography in Higher Education discussing the goals and purposes of the network. Outlines various INLT projects, such as establishing a communication network, developing a database and clearinghouse, establishing links with other organizations, and linking students projects…

Provides a guide to writing research reports in geography and the environmental sciences. Outlines some of the reasons for writing research reports and then goes on to discuss general layout and content. Concludes with some comments on matters of presentation and written expression. (DSK)

Argues that geography educators need to give greater attention to the teaching of professional ethics as part of their contribution to the education of responsible citizens. Introduces an approach that couples the case method with a jurisprudential inquiry model, asking students to resolve professional ethical dilemmas through publicly defensible…

Maintains that writing ability is vital in fulfilling geography discipline objectives of mutual understanding and emancipation. Reports on a study of the use of writing groups in college geography classrooms in the United States and Australia. Includes a student essay evaluation guide as an appendix. (CFR)

Asserts that oral presentations of research findings by students are used in higher education. States that advice or techniques for effective speaking seldom are outlined. Provides a five-part strategy for teaching and evaluating oral communication. Includes a presentation evaluation form for assessing student performance. (CFR)

Discusses the nature and application of a research poster exercise used in an advanced undergraduate geography course. Describes the research strategies and the necessary oral, written, and design skills required to complete the project. Concludes that close supervision of student work will help improve the project as an instructional tool. (CFR)