22. Education and Accreditation

Landscape Science and Geoecology Education at the Universities in Belarus: history, current status

and future development

Prof. Dr. Galina Martsinkevich1

Prof. Dr. Alexandr Vitchenko1

Iryna Usava2

1 Belarusian State University, Geographical Faculty, Republic of Belarus

2 Non-governmental organization “EKAPRAEKT”, Republic of Belarus

ABSTRACT

Training courses on landscape science and geoecology are compulsory courses of educational programmes in classical universities with traditionally established biological, geographical faculties and faculties of natural science. Disciplines on landscape science and geoecology are taught also in specific universities where specialists-environmentalist with various specialization are graduated. In this regard from 54 Universities of Republic of Belarus, disciplines of landscape and environmental profile has been taught only in 6 ones. The survey have been made for 6 Universities and includes analysis of the list of landscape and ecological disciplines, history of their formation, total volume of classroom hours, and also hours allocated for self-study work. We examined in details the standard and training courses syllabuses. We recorded goals and objectives of each relevant course, structure, content, topics for laboratory and practical classes, seminars and self-study work as well as learning competences. The certain problems in the field of landscape science and geoecology education were identified as lack of academic disciplines, innovative specializations and specialities on landscape ecology. It is important to solve the problems nowadays when the system of higher education is changing in accordance with the requirements of the Bologna process. We discuss the results of survey and make recommendations for future development of landscape science and geoecology education. There is a need to enhance the environmental training of specialists with knowledge and skills in the field of balanced development of the natural environment and human society. It is necessary to increase the number of landscape and environmental disciplines through university component of curricula, introduce new specialization associated with the use of geographic information systems in geoecology and landscape science, applied aspects of landscape and environmental studies, assessment of landscapes and geosystems for different types of land use.

Keywords: landscape science and geoecology education, universities, future development of landscape science and geoecology education, Republic of Belarus.

INTRODUCTION

Currently, the system of higher education in Belarus is under the transition: for a number of humanitarian and natural science disciplines validity period of the educational standard of the 2nd generation approved in 2008 will end this year. This is explained by introduction from 1 September 2013 of the new educational standards for four-years period of study. Currently, for specialties “Geography” and “Geoecology” the volume of teaching hours for the basic courses, the number of special courses, field practice and internships have been declined. At the same time, new educational standards still focus on the implementation of competence approach, interdisciplinary learning, module structure of curriculum, increase of hours of distance learning and self-study work; implementation of rating model of assessment system.

There are 54 universities in Belarus. Most of them are commercial universities primarily with humanitarian specialties (including juridical, economic and cultural ones). Among state universities technical and classical universities dominate. It is the last group of universities focused on the training of specialists in the field of ecology, geoecology, natural resource management, environmental protection, geography and biology, different courses of landscape and environmental profile. These disciplines are read in 6 state Universities in Belarus: Belarussian State University (BSU, Minsk), Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov (VSU, Vitebsk), Fransick Skorina Gomel State University (GSU, Gomel), Brest State University named after A.S. Pushkin (BRSU, Brest), Baranovichy State University (BARSU, Baranovichy), International Sakharova Environmental University (ISEU, Minsk).

The set of disciplines of landscape and environmental profile in each university varies from six (BSU) up to two (BRSU, BARSU). The course “landscape science” is read in all six Universities, the course “geoecology” – is taught in four universities (BSU, BRSU, GSU and BARSU). The course “landscape ecology” is read in two Universities (BSU, VSU), “ecology of landscape” (BSU, GSU), “applied landscape science” – only in Belarussian State University, “ecology of landscape of Belarus” – only in Fransick Skorina Gomel State University. The course “landscape ecology” is provided for the students of the specialty ‘biology” in Belarussian State University, all other disciplines – for the students of the specialty “Geography” and “Geoecology”. At the Faculty of Geography of Belarussian State University, the course “landscape science” is read for the students of four specialties: geography, geoecology, hydrometeorology and aerocosmocartography, 120-130 students per year.

Other Universities provide the courses of landscape and environmental profile quite rare and usually these courses have applied focus. For example, in some technical universities as Belarussian National Technical University (BNTU, Minsk) and Brest State Technical University (BSTU, Brest) the course “landscape architecture” is taught at the Faculty of construction and architecture. In Belarussian State Technological University (BelSTU, Minsk) several courses with applied focus are trained as “hydroecology”, “forestry”, “industrial ecology” and others. Among agricultural Universities, Belarussian State Agricultural Academy (BAA, Gorki) has courses as “ecology of agriculture”, “ecology of agroindustrial complex”. The exception from this list is the Belarussian State University of Informatics and Radiaelectronics (BSUIR,Minsk) where from 2015-2016 education year the modified course on geoecology will be introduced.

Methodology

The survey have been made for six Universities and includes analysis of the list of landscape and ecological disciplines, history of their formation, total volume of classroom hours, and also hours allocated for self-study work. We examined in details the standard and training courses syllabuses for both courses “landscape science” and “geoecology”. We recorded goals and objectives of each relevant course, structure, content, topics for laboratory and practical classes, seminars and self-study work as well as learning competences.

Description of the courses “landscape science” and “geoecology”

Landscape science

History of the course

The course “Landscape science” has begun to lecture at Belarusian State University in 1970. This course has been elaborated by Professor Galina Martsinkevich as a geographical discipline in accordance with traditions of Russian landscape school. In 2011, the same author developed a typical educational programme of the course, which now is read in all Universities of Republic of Belarus where the training on “landscape science” is provided [1], [2].

The aim and objective of the course

Landscape science is physical-geographical discipline that meets the principles of integrated university education. The doctrine about landscape is a part of the system of physical-geographical disciplines and is a core of this system. The course “landscape science” aims to develop student’s understanding about landscape sphere of the Earth as an integrated global system with complex horizontal and vertical structure, natural resources and ecological capacity which provides all necessary conditions for a human life.

The aim of the course – to study the spatial-temporal patterns of formation, structure and development of natural and anthropogenic complexes, features of their differentiation and integration, areas of economic use, as well as the identification of regional and local ecological problems and possibilities to solve them. Object of the educational course – landscape sphere of the Earth.

Current status of the course

The brief quantitative information from syllabus about course “landscape science” is presented in the Table 1.

Table 1 – Information sheet about courses “landscape science” and “geoecology”

Items of the curriculum / Description of the items of the courses
Course title / Landscape Science / Geoecology
Author of the educational programme / Prof. Galina Martsinkevich / Prof. Alexandr Vitchenko
Field of Study / The type study programme / The type study programme
Language, in which the course is taught / Russian / Russian
Course type / Compulsory / Compulsory
Year / 2 / 3
Period of study / Specialist / Specialist
Total hours / 144 / 164
ECTS / 4 / 5
Hours for lectures / 4 hours per week / 2,5 hours per week
Hours of seminars / 3 hours per week / 1,4 hours per week

Lectures, seminars, workshops, laboratory exercises, individual tasks, group assignments, intermediate tests are the main learning and teaching methods used within the course.

The rating system of graduation for the course is applied, which includes: a) continuous assessment (%) - 0,4% (e.g. intermediate tests, individual work, laboratory work, seminars); b) final assessment (%) (e.g. written exams, final tests) – 0,6%.

The structure of the course “landscape science” is the following. The theoretical part of the course contains two modules; each of them includes five topics. In the first module “History of development and theoretical problems of landscape science” the below mentioned topics are covered: 1. The History of development of Landscape Science; 2. Modern trends of development of Landscape Science and Landscape Ecology in countries Western/Eastern Europe and North America; 3. Methodological problems of Landscape Science; 4. Methodological problems of Anthropogenic Landscape Science; 5. Processes of landscape development – function, dynamic, evolution. The second module “Differentiation and integration of landscapes, applied landscape research” includes five topics: 6. Natural and Anthropogenic landscapes of Earth; 7. Classification and structure of landscapes of Belarus; 8. Spatial structure of anthropogenic landscapes of Belarus; 9. Landscape Subdivision and 10. Applied Landscape Science research.

It is worth to mention that certain topics of the course “landscape science” (7,8,9 and partly 10) use the results of the scientific research of Prof. Galina Martsinkevich, who together with Prof. Alexandr Vitchenko during several years are the leaders of the “scientific school of landscape science and geoecology” in Republic of Belarus.

Within the course “landscape science” the special focus is paid on development of skills of students within laboratory classes and seminars. The following topics for laboratory classes are proposed as: LW1 - To work out maps of natural and anthropogenic landscapes for certain area; LW2 - To use quantitative and qualitative criteria for assessment of landscape sustainability, anthropogenic transformation, ecological condition, diversity according to the published methodologies; LW3 - Methods assessment of landscape diversity.

The opportunity to discuss the most interesting and problematic issues of the course are provided for students within the seminar classes, which address the following topics as methodological problems of landscape science, landscape ecology and landscape planning.

After the course “landscape science” students will know: the aim and place of landscape science in the system of geographical science, its role in solving of theoretical and practical problems in order to achieve sustainable development of the regions; the most important scientific and theoretical achievements of scientific landscape schools of Western and Eastern Europe, North America, and also Russia and Belarus; methodological approaches, concepts, terminology, methods of landscapes, theoretical problems and future directions of development of modern landscape science; global differentiation of landscapes of the world and regional features of spatial distribution of landscapes of Belarus; rules, criteria and indicators for integration of landscapes within their typology, classification and subdivision; student will be able to: to assess the ecological and geographical situation of the region, its natural resource capacity and also ecological conditions, stability and diversity of landscapes; to make the assessment of natural and natural-anthropogenic landscapes for different practical purposes; to make recommendations for their optimization and use; students will have skills on application of methods of applied landscape research; methodology of assessment of landscapes for agricultural, recreational, ecological and other purposes; methods of geoinformational modelling; interpretation of remote sensing materials; on calculation of coefficients and indices for assessment of landscape diversity; methods of processing, analysis and interpretation of landscape and environmental information.

The course “landscape science” contributes to the development of the academic, social, personal and professional competencies among students. The most important academic competencies: (1) to conduct the research work, apply the basic scientific and theoretical knowledge to solve practical problems; (2) to apply the methods of system analysis, use of modern technical devices and information technologies; (3) to have skills to use comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to solve scientific and practical problems; (4) to understand the importance of protection and conservation of landscape and biological diversity; social and personal competencies: (1) be able to work independently and as a team; have the ability for interpersonal communication; (2) be able for social interaction, have critical thinking; professional competencies: (1) to have knowledge of assessment of human impacts on the environment, the development of methods and techniques for optimization of landscapes; (2) to know methods and methodologies for assessment, modeling and forecasting of natural and natural-anthropogenic landscapes; (3) to prepare the reports, materials for reports, presentations and other documents.

Geoecology

History of the course

The course “geoecology” has been developed by Alexandr Vitchenko for students of specialty “geoecology” and was included in the curriculum of the Faculty of Geography of Belarussian State University in 2001. Currently the course is read according to the standard curriculum developed by Professor Alexandr Vitchenko in four Belarussian Universities for students of the speciality “geoecology” [3], [4].

The aim and objective of the course

Geoecology is integrated academic discipline, which consistent with the principles of integrated university education. It is grounded on the understanding of laws on development of geographical environment, analysis of geographical and ecological studies of global problems of humanity and their features at regional and local levels. The main objective of the academic discipline – development of the geoecological view of the world among students, knowledge about properties and laws of the geographical environment and its natural and natural-anthropogenic geosystems; theoretical framework, principles and guidelines for environmental management, sustainable development of society and optimization of its interaction with environment. The objective of the academic discipline – the geographical environment, as a part of transformed geographical envelope.

Current status of the course

The brief quantitative information from syllabus about course “geoecology” is presented in the Table 1. The syllabus of the course “geoecology” includes 3 modules with 17 topics. The first module “Theory and methodology of geoecology” covers the following topics: 1. Object and subject, purpose and objectives of geoecology; 2. Theoretical and methodological bases of geoecology. Basic concepts, terminology, scientific approaches, regulations and problems of geoecology; 3. Geosystem concept, its contents; 4. Methods of geoecological studies, methodological research approaches. The second module “Geoecology – methodological basis of nature resources management and environment protection” consists from several themes, including 5. Analysis of geoecological principles, rules and regulations and laws of natural resources management and environmental protection, modern concepts of optimization of contemporary ways of natural resources management and types of its regulation; 6. Geoecological aspects of unfavourable and dangerous natural and anthropogenic processes; 7. Natural resources as the basis of human life and society; 8. Scientific and technical progress and geoecological security; 9. Economic mechanisms and institutional framework of environmental management. The final third module “Geoecological problems of geographical environment” includes topics devoted to 10-13 Geoecological features of lithosphere, atmosphere and the biosphere, influence of modern natural processes on different areas of economic activity and human, as well as the role of humanity in the changes of the environment; 14. Geoecological problems of the natural and technogenic geosystems; 15. Global geoecological problems; 16. Geoecological problems of Belarus and national strategy of sustainable development of the country; 17. Forms of geoecological activities and international cooperation in the field of geoecology which address the following issues: the area and directions of the use of geoecological knowledge, the problems of geoecological education, training and awareness; the modern problems of international cooperation in addressing environmental problems; international legal aspects of environmental conservation; international organizations, programmes and projects in the area of protection and conservation of environment.