In Defense of International Fieldwork

Abstract

Over the past decades, many educational programs have included the option to study abroad, through exchange, a (residential) field trip, or fieldwork, as is also highlighted by Annette Freyberg-Inan. Field trips and fieldwork have also become part of the compulsory curriculum of educational programs. International fieldwork has often been presented as a “flagship” for programs to attract students in the global competition for talent. This was also facilitated through the increasing availability and decreasing costs of flights bringing all kinds of destinations within accessible range. This was particularly the case for geography: Among geographers, fieldwork—leaving the classroom and learning through first-hand experience—is often considered the “signature pedagogy.” Examples of geography fieldwork from the programs offered in my own department include a one-day visit to a city under the supervision of a lecturer, or a trip of a week with thirty students and two staff members to the Calais-Dover border region....