Anna Badia (anna.badia@uab.es)
Full Professor in the Geography Department at the Autonomous University of Barcelona

Montserrat Pallarès (montserrat.pallares@uab.es)
Full Professor in the Geography Department at the Autonomous University of Barcelona
Vice-Rector for Research at the Autonomous University of Barcelona

Joan Carles Llurdés (joancarles.llurdes@uab.es)
Full Professor in the Geography Department at the Autonomous University of Barcelona

Abstract

Over the last five years, the Autonomous University of Barcelona's Geography Department studies have undergone a series of structural changes. Adaptation to an online system has led to a structural change in the way in which knowledge is disseminated and materials produced, and the application of the so-called Bologna Process (adaptation to the European Higher Education Area, EHEA) has brought with it the need to change certain habits in the way knowledge is disseminated, a new credit transfer system (ECTS) and skills-based training. The Department has taken part in a pilot test project initiated by the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). In this period of change, we are simultaneously offering three teaching systems: the traditional system, in line with the study plan from 2002; the Bologna Process system, started in 2005-2006, and the online system, which was started in the academic year 2001-2002 and which does not form part of the Bologna Process. Two or three years from now, there will be two systems, face-to-face and online, both of which are to be adapted to the Bologna Process. This article looks to show what these changes have meant, in terms of the experience in subjects we teach (Cartography and Photointerpretation, Social and Economic Geography and Geographic Information Systems), which provides the basis for a discussion of the pros and cons of adaptation of Geogr@phy Online and to the Bologna Process.

Keywords

Submission date: January 2006
Published in: May 2006