The School of Science and Technology, University of
Northampton has funding from URB@N for three projects. URB@N
stands for ‘Undergraduate Research Bursaries at Northampton’. It is a bursary
scheme offering opportunities for current undergraduate students to participate
in a pedagogic research project taking place at the university. Details
of one of these projects is included here.
Staff Involved:
Terry Tudor
Paul Cox
Nigel Freestone
Louise Maxwell
Ruth Copeland-Phillips
Margaret Bates
Overview:
In recent years there has been increasing emphasis globally
on managing the
environment, particularly wastes, in a more sustainable
manner. Linked to
this has been a desire to increase the competencies and
skills of individuals
in the field of environmental management and more
specifically wastes
management. The Department of Environmental and Geographical
Sciences,
at the University currently offers a range of environmental
management
courses, with a growing provision of distance learning.
Indeed, within the
past few months, the Department has been approached by
universities in
India, Kenya, Nigeria, Iraq and China, with requests for
provision of waste
management course. However, it is not possible to deliver by
traditional
classroom based methods in all interested institutions. The
Wastes Team is
therefore looking at a range of alternative delivery methods
including, but not
limited to, blended learning, flying faculty and distance
learning. We wish to
undertake research into the perception and logistics of
wastes management
course delivery by distance learning so that we can better
meet the student
expectations and enhance their learning experiences. The
project’s main
objectives are to:
Examine the key socio-economic, cultural and logistical
factors that
might influence the successful uptake of alternative
delivery methods in
waste management courses
Identify possible strategies to overcome these factors which
would
facilitate an enhanced student experience.
