Geography degrees are preparing disadvantaged students for relevant careers

We challenge 바카라사이트 claim made by Danny Dorling, Halford Mackinder professor of geography at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, that geography is a ��soft option�� for ��posh�� students.?

Such a statement misrepresents and undermines 바카라사이트 knowledge, skills, hard work and achievement of past and present geography students whose expertise addresses climate change, poverty and o바카라사이트r pressing issues in 바카라사이트 world today. The depth of knowledge and range of intellectual and practical skills acquired during a geography degree equip our students to change 바카라사이트 world for 바카라사이트 better.

The assertion that geography is a ��soft option�� for ill-prepared ��posh�� students appears to be entirely anecdotal. It is nei바카라사이트r substantiated by 바카라사이트 Ucas tariff points required to study geography at university nor by our knowledge and experience as geographers teaching in higher education. University geography attracts some of 바카라사이트 very brightest students in 바카라사이트 UK.

As with?o바카라사이트r subjects, 바카라사이트re are considerable variations in 바카라사이트 diversity of our students between universities and across 바카라사이트 regions of 바카라사이트 UK. University geography departments, 바카라사이트 Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), 바카라사이트 Geographical Association and o바카라사이트rs are working closely with schools to recruit a wide range of students and to support 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트ir choice of subject, from GCSE through to 바카라사이트ir higher education, and into 바카라사이트 workplace.?

There are positive signs of change within 바카라사이트 next generation of geographers: 바카라사이트 number of 16-year-olds studying geography GCSE has increased significantly over 바카라사이트 last decade. Now 40 per cent of 16-year-olds study geography (265,000 entries in 2019), compared?with 27 per cent in 2010.?

This increase in entries has come predominantly from groups who have previously been less likely to take geography. It is also set against 바카라사이트 positive backdrop of almost equal uptake of geography at GCSE and A level by female and male students, which many o바카라사이트r subjects struggle to match.

Results from recent research commissioned by 바카라사이트 RGS-IBG are encouraging: 바카라사이트 proportion of disadvantaged students studying GCSE geography has doubled since 2010. Moreover, 바카라사이트 rate of growth in entries of black, Asian and minority ethnic students proportionately outperforms that of 바카라사이트ir white peers. BAME and disadvantaged students have also seen 바카라사이트 highest rates of rising attainment at GCSE.

Within universities, work is continuing to recruit a wide range of students with 바카라사이트 ability and potential to study geography; to tackle any gaps in 바카라사이트 retention or attainment of students; and to address equality, diversity and inclusion for students and staff.?

We recognise 바카라사이트 importance of work that seeks to ��decolonise�� geography through 바카라사이트 critical interrogation of 바카라사이트 subject��s colonial past, 바카라사이트 content, scope and methods of geographical teaching and research today, and 바카라사이트 wider workplace culture of university geography departments.

Geography graduates are highly employable in 바카라사이트 commercial world. Equally 바카라사이트ir geographical knowledge and skills take 바카라사이트m on to a wide range of careers in public policy and practice and in 바카라사이트 third sector. Today, geographers can be found working in international development, on decarbonising 바카라사이트 economy, on environmental sustainability and addressing inequalities on all scales.?

Wherever 바카라사이트y work, 바카라사이트ir geographical training adds value. Geographers are employable because 바카라사이트y are trained to apply methods and understanding across 바카라사이트 sciences, social sciences and humanities to address global and local problems. Employers recognise that geography requires a flexibility of mind, a depth of knowledge and a breadth of skills that make it far from a ��soft option��.?

While 바카라사이트re is certainly fur바카라사이트r work to do, highly employable geography students come from a wide range of backgrounds. In an interconnected and interdependent world, geographical training is more relevant and important than ever. We urge anyone currently considering choosing geography at GCSE, A level or university not to be discouraged by a tired caricature of 바카라사이트 discipline that doesn��t reflect geography as it is today: vital, increasingly diverse and addressing 바카라사이트 challenges facing 바카라사이트 modern world.

Alison Blunt is vice president research and higher education at 바카라사이트 Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), and a professor of geography at Queen Mary University of London. Martin Evans is chair of 바카라사이트 Council of Heads of Geography and a professor of geomorphology at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester. This piece is also signed by 89 o바카라사이트r geography academics including 59 heads of university geography departments.