Curriculum Examples<< Back to Global Perspectives at BU Some programmes are leading the way and encouraging their students to explore global perspectives through a range of curriculum opportunities. A few of the many examples are given below. School of Conservation SciencesStudents from the School of Conservation Sciences are exposed to a range of global problems throughout the curriculum with individual issues covered being dependent on the specific programme. The School embraces many established subjects while also engaging with global interdisciplinary issues such as preserving the cultural and natural heritage, environmental change, conserving biodiversity, managing historic landscapes, genocide, and the role of technology. Whilst the School concentrates on diversity and variety when dealing with global perspectives, elements of commonality are also emphasised for example the universal language of science and mathematics which helps to internationalise our subject areas. Recent staff research and scholarly activities have included work in China, Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Uganda and USA. This on-going work ensures the curriculum remains ‘current’, with the latest developments feeding directly into the curriculum particularly through the use of case studies, for example in satellite remote sensing, studies of climate change, designation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and crime scene investigations. Students have the opportunity to undertake overseas placements and research projects. Examples of countries which students have recently been on placement include Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Crete, Cameroon, Dubai, France, Greece, Portugal, South Africa, Thailand and USA. Within the environmental and geographical framework of programmes an overseas residential fieldtrip is embedded within the curriculum and in the final year there is a ‘Global Development Issues’ unit. Throughout a range of activities students are required to consider issues from a series of viewpoints i.e. local, regional, national, international and global. Students are exposed to cultural challenges and are required to consider development issues in a range of contexts. Within each programme students also benefit from site visits and guest lectures involving practitioners and policy makers.. |
