Reports on a forum of publishers with international experience producing geography textbooks for higher education. Discusses the role of textbooks, international differences in courses, impact of changes within the discipline, and emerging technologies. Outlines three thematic trends in geography textbook publishing. (CFR)

Considers the arguments advanced for an expansion of academic programs incorporating service learning. Briefly describes several programs in relation to the validity of these arguments. Suggests that geography could benefit from incorporating elements of service learning in order to enhance its treatment of ethical issues. (MJP)

Maintains that community enterprise projects help students develop academic, personal, and transferable skills, while enabling underfunded not-for-profit groups to achieve some of their goals. Provides several examples of programs and suggests methods of improvement. (MJP)

Describes and promotes topic synthesis, an approach where students rather than instructors summarize the key points of the previous lecture at the beginning of the next class. Benefits include improved oral presentation skills and reinforcement of key concepts. The method also provides an accurate assessment tool. (MJP)

Argues that employer/student programs on a small scale can be as effective as larger endeavors. Describes a pilot project where employer involvement focused solely on evaluation and feedback of geography students' oral presentations. Discusses the benefits and problems of the program. (MJP)

Evaluates the merits of a program that requires both a dissertation and work experience for a graduate degree in geography. Maintains that changes in both the educational environment and the job market require greater flexibility and experience. (MJP)

Asserts that although undergraduate geography internships are widespread throughout the United States, few schools require them for the major. Profiles the program at Illinois State University that requires an internship. Student and intern sponsor evaluations suggest that the program is a success. (MJP)

Maintains that philosophy has become an integral part of geography education at the university level. Considers the value of textbooks in teaching and learning about philosophy in geography. Reviews textbook treatment of the topic and provides a list of 25 textbooks that explore geographic philosophy. (CFR)

Discusses recent efforts to incorporate transferable "enterprise skills" into British higher education. Examines the role of geographers in the endeavor. Illustrates how a first-year geography course was adapted to a practical skills approach. Argues that enterprise skills are better incorporated into the existing curriculum and not…

Discusses efforts by the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA) to develop introductory college level courses in geographic information systems (GIS). Explores a year-long evaluation of the curriculum development project. Describes the objectives, components, and results of the evaluation. (SG)

Discusses geography's place in the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (ERASMUS). Reports that geography plays a small part in ERASMUS, although the rate of the United Kingdom's participation in ERASMUS programs is high. Describes student and teacher mobility, curriculum development, and intensive ERASMUS…

Criticizes the intrusion into Australian higher education of the corporate management model. Considers the implications of this mechanization for geography instruction. Notes centralizing tendencies and merger policies with the corresponding market imperatives of efficiency and accountability. Argues that this produces employable manpower but does…

Analyzes the course evaluations of 323 geography graduates of British Universities 6 years after graduation. Finds that 25 percent would not repeat their choice of a geography degree; and those most satisfied had excelled in their degree and used it to find interesting, well-paying jobs. Relates the findings' consequences to market pressures on…

Describes the Geography 16-19 Project, a National Curriculum program in operation in the United Kingdom since 1976. Examines the project's approach to curriculum planning which emphasizes process-oriented, inquiry-based learning that focuses on interrelationships between people and their environments. Considers implications for higher education…

Presents an interview with Gilbert Grosvenor, president and chairman of the board of the National Geographic Society. Examines student and public ignorance about geography. Describes the Society's Geography Education Project, Geographic Alliance Project, and Education Foundation. Includes Grosvenor's call for greater emphasis on geography in…