What GI education do we need in Europe?

AGIT2008 – Learning with Geoinformation,

Herodot Forum, University of Salzburg, July 4,

2008Tino Johansson

Department of Geography, University of Helsinki, Finland

Background

HERODOT Geography Thematic Network – GIS Expert meeting in Madrid 29 May – 1 June 2008

to establish guidelines for spatial/GI studies in Geography education in Europe

focus on the essential components, such as the key competences at different educational levels

the workshop reflected the findings of TUNING Geography report (2007) on the current national competences and/or situations

subject content reference points that should be met by the discipline

the Bologna process > reference points closely related to learning outcomes

TUNING Geography survey

985 completed surveys from twelve European countries

higher educational institutionscreate an academic disciplinary profile for

degree qualificationsranked subject specific competences and

ranked generic competences for undergraduate and postgraduate levels

TUNING phases 1 and 2 are finished and now we are in phase 3 where these outcomes are reviewed and discussed

Competences in the TUNING report

Competences were described as follows: competences are a combination of cognitive and

meta-cognitive skills, knowledge and understaning they consists of interpersonal, practical and intellectual

skills and ethical values

The aim of this workshop

To discuss and agree on the set of competences in GI that a learner of Geography should be expected to know, understand and be able to demonstrate after completion of their process of learning

Our work should be based on the two documents

created in Madrid (available for comments in the

HERODOT discussion forum until the end of July) What are the absolute minimum level descriptors and

learning outcomes that every European learner should

achieve 1) at the end of secondary school and 2) at

the end of graduate studies at the higher educational

institutions?

The aim of this workshop

To contribute to the establishment of European key competences for GI in Geography

The finalized documents will be sent to the decision-

makers across Europe to promote the agenda there Once the documents are finished, they will be

translated to most (if not all) European languages Potential effects, such as employability, improvement

of the status of geography and GI in our countries, etc.