Practical training as part of higher environmental education

Abstract

Role and benefits of a compulsory practical training in environmental science education are investigated with respect to the three institutional goals of university education, i.e. (1) reproduction of research, (2) professional education, and (3) general natural science education. An empirical survey is presented showing which student qualifications are improved by a practical training complementary to traditional university education. The survey assesses 14 qualifications of students who participated in a compulsory 15-week practical training in the 5-year diploma program in environmental sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Switzerland. Preand post practical training questionnaires of 478 students and 293 supervisors from practice are included. Vocational training improves qualifications complementary to conventional university education in particular, general abilities and key qualification, such as communication skills, report writing, organization of work, and information acquisition. Also salient qualifications of complex environmental problem solving such as the ability to deal with uncertainty and to detect relevant aspects are promoted (by the practical training). The results suggest that practical training is of high value for professional education and enhances general key qualifications such as the ability to operate independently. However, practical training also enhances students‘ complex problem solving ability under uncertainty, which is of importance for the development of research capability in the field of environmental sciences, too.