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Extended work-related placements in developing countries: supporting remote learning and assessment

Abstract Undertaking independent project work in overseas locations, and especially in developing countries, can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. Challenges encountered by students in their host country will include: adapting to an unfamiliar physical, cultural and social environment; designing and undertaking informative field research; and having limited communications with family, friends and supervisory staff in the UK. When introducing individual overseas fieldwork into academic programmes, close consideration needs to be given to both logistical and academic issues. The Geography Department at Bath Spa University (BSU) runs a Foundation Degree in Development Geography, which is designed to increase student employability within the field of development on completion of the degree. A pivotal aspect of this programme is an extended field visit to a developing country, where students undertake a work-related placement and design and implement their own small-scale research project. In 2005–06 the department received GEES Subject Centre Small-Scale Learning & Teaching Project Funding to undertake research into supporting remote learning and assessment, in relation to our overseas placement module. Based on recent experiences of staff and students, this article reviews aspects of communication, student support and assessment that should be considered when designing independent overseas fieldwork.