Geography graduates’ professional socialisation and identity development through service learning.

Authors

  • Marie Mahon Geography, School of Geography & Archaeology, National University of Ireland Galway http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6216-9448
  • Therese Conway Geography, School of Geography & Archaeology, NUI Galway
  • Maura Farrell Geography, School of Geography & Archaeology, NUI Galway
  • John McDonagh

Keywords:

Geography, professional identity, rural, service learning.

Abstract

 

This paper explores, at university level, the value of a service learning approach to teaching and learning rural geography to develop students’ awareness of a professional identity. Drawing on theories of service learning as experiential learning, and the construction of professional identities in practice-based contexts, it explores how the service learning (practice-and inquiry-based) process can enhance students’ capacities to identify themselves as rural geography professionals. In particular, the paper explores how service learning contributes to raising students’ awareness via reflective exercises about the contribution of their geographical knowledge and skills to local development problem-solving.  The paper uses a case study example of a service learning module run as part of a Master’s in Rural Sustainability programme. The evidence accrues from ten of these Master’s students working with two locally-based development organisations situated in a rural market town and their efforts to devise and assess a project’s feasibility to contribute to the town’s development needs.  Overall, the paper adds to the knowledge of how professional identity is formed through practice and, how this can be facilitated via certain practice-based strategies via the service learning experience.  It concludes by reflecting on the effectiveness of this project-based approach, and on the implications of enhancing this aspect of graduates’ development vis-à-vis their future employability as rural geography professionals.

Author Biographies

Marie Mahon, Geography, School of Geography & Archaeology, National University of Ireland Galway

Marie Mahon is a senior lecturer in Human Geography at the School of Geography & Archaeology, National University of Ireland Galway.  Marie’s research has focused on change in rural places especially from urbanizing influences. She has published on urban-rural relationships, place-based identity and meanings and representations of rurality, civic engagement in the rural and its governance.  Her research has been funded by the EU and by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS).  Her recent research is on a) understandings of territorial cohesion and spatial justice (H2020 IMAJINE); b) the importance of the arts and culture for rural sustainability.  The latter has been funded by the IRCHSS through a New Foundations Grant (The role of the arts and creativity in sustaining rural and Gaeltacht communities – beyond economic critiques).  She has been awarded a one-month Ruralia Visiting Scholarship at the University of Helsinki’s Ruralia Institute to continue this research within an international context.  She has recently edited a Special Edition of the Journal of Rural Studies: “The transformative potential of cultural and artistic endeavours for sustainable rural futures”.

Therese Conway, Geography, School of Geography & Archaeology, NUI Galway

Lecturer

Maura Farrell, Geography, School of Geography & Archaeology, NUI Galway

Lecturer

John McDonagh

Senior Lecturer

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Published

2020-02-29

Issue

Section

Research Articles