Monash Memo - articles - 26 March 2002

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South Africa field trip broadens study

Students from the School of Geography and EnvironmentalScience added a practical element to their studies during a field tripto South Africa earlier this year.

As part of their studies inregional sustainability, 19 students participated in the field trip,which included a visit to Monash's South Africa campus. The trip was ledby senior lecturer Dr Priya Rangan and postdoctoral fellow Dr SimonHaberle.

The group, which was joined by lecturer in geography at theSouth Africa campus Mr Lebogang Mashego, spent three weeks in theMpumalanga province learning about the importance of water, land reform,infrastructure, health and education and their implications for regionalsustainability.

The field trip forms part of an intensive programknown as a flexible delivery unit, developed by the school.

"The triphelped students make connections with international developmentorganisations working in South Africa," Dr Rangan said.

According tostudent Mr Dane Roberts, the program was an opportunity for students toexperience education in an entirely different manner.

"The benefits Igained from this type of learning and from the opportunity to travelwill be remembered long after I get my degree," he said.

Monash Abroadhelped fund the flexible-delivery unit, enabling 80 per cent of theclass to participate in the field trip.