A distinctive feature of geology teaching is the integration of frontal teaching, laboratory work, and field activities, which actively involve students in the learning process. For a training geologist, it is key to gain practical experience in the field. Therefore, in the Master's Degree in Geosciences for Sustainable Development, several fieldtrips take place in each semester as an integral part of the teaching programme.
The field activities allow the students to gain a direct understanding of the notions studied theoretically in class or experimentally in the lab, and to learn first-hand field methods and techniques. Thus, the field activities promote active learning in which the acquired knowledge is put into practice. Fieldwork is carried out both individually and in teams, benefiting from cooperative learning and peer review. These skills are key elements for entering the job market with the flexibility necessary to meet the challenges of a complex society, affected by rapid and unpredictable changes in culture, science and technology.
During the fieldtrips, the students learn to observe and recognize minerals and rocks, to describe geometric relationships between rock bodies, to report data on maps, to make geological interpretations, and to grasp their applied implications. Techniques for measuring geodynamic indicators and sampling techniques are employed, and data gathered for subsequent laboratory studies.
In our fieldtrips, special attention is dedicated to the safety of our students, to whom we offer a training course on the risks of field activities. All students benefit from a partial reimbursement of the expenses incurred.