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Geography and Environmental Studies in Australia: Symbiosis for Survival in the 21st Century?
- Source :
- Australian Geographical Studies; Mar2002, Vol. 40 Issue 1, p21, 12p
- Publication Year :
- 2002
-
Abstract
- This paper presents the results of a detailed survey into the reasons for the spate of mergers between Geography and Environment Studies that took place in Australian universities from 1989 to 1999. The results, from a 1998 survey, suggest that the development of a symbiotic relationship between the two areas of study is merely a veneer masking a complexity of underlying factors. These include financial reasons, internal university politics, staff changes and mobility, and only in some cases, a genuine academic rationale for a merger. The paper concludes that the superficial appearance of a symbiosis between Geography and Environment Studies generally masks an opportunistic pragmatism which is very site specific in its complexity. The result has been a series of departmental mergers which, although providing a firmer financial footing, raise questions about the academic implications for the development of both study areas as we move into the third millennium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- GEOGRAPHY
HUMAN ecology
ACADEMIC departments
HIGHER education
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00049190
- Volume :
- 40
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Australian Geographical Studies
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 6194644
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8470.00158