Continuing Education at Faculty of Geography (Lomonosov Moscow State University): Trend for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Current situation shows that education is enough for two or three years after graduating, and then there is a need for additional training to meet the rapidly changing requirements of the developing reality. The aim of the paper is to focus on concept of continuing education at the Faculty of Geography. It includes several stages. The School of Young Geographers (SYG) provides knowledge of geography that is not covered by school programme, introduces methods of field research. Bachelor's educational programme forms an understanding and framework of rational nature use as a result of human activity and way to solve adverse situations, gives a set of tools to improve land use and protect landscapes, choose the purpose of land use, etc. Masters are trained to conduct original researches at different levels, to propose recommendations on improving situation by providing principles of land adaptation, introducing various research methods and skills of mapping, training the ecological networks, learning to rank the priorities of use in accordance with the ecological capacity. Further educational programme develop a unique way for specialists graduated from different professional fields to receive or improve environmental knowledge and skills. At the end of each stage students demonstrate knowledge and skills in graduating works and make their scientific reports. In paper we stress mostly the bachelor's educational programme as it forms the majority of specialists in ecology and nature use.