JOB/CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDYING GEOGRAPHY By Kwabena Barima Antwi Department of Geography and Regional Planning University of Cape Coast, Ghana [Email: k_bantwi@yahoo.co.uk: 0246-143986] August 5, 2011 WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR Learning Objectives After going through this session participants should be able to: Appreciate Geography as an inter-disciplinary subject that has multiple pathways to career and professional development; Recognise that Geography is among the leading Social Scientific subjects that can open more job or career opportunities for those who study it with interest and commitment; and Utilize the insight gained to educate or inform others, including students and parents and policy makers about the need to perhaps make Geography a compulsory for all. WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Outline of Presentation Introduction Skill and Attributes of Geographers What can or do Geographers do Some Subject Combinations and Possible Career Outcomes What can Geographers do with their Degrees Type of Training in Geography and Regional Planning @UCC What Job opportunities are out there for Geographers Some Empirical Evidence of job opportunities for Geographers Conclusion WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR Introduction Compared to other subjects, Geography graduates are among the most employable; They possess the skills that employers look for; In part this is because the subject combines knowledge of science and an understanding of the arts; WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Skills & Attributes Of Geographers (Adapted from Pauline, 1999) GEOGRAPHY – Understand and interpret geographic information: Recognise inter and intra-subject relationships Understand the conceptual basis of geography Understand methods for geographical investigations and their limitations INTELLECTUAL SKILLS: -Research abilities -Reason critically -Create imaginative solutions -Synthesize diverse materials -Reflect and evaluate -Originality Flexible in thinking and debating issues -Criticize analytical approaches PERSONAL SKILLS: -Career management -Self motivation -Prioritize activities -Innovation and adaptability -Self evaluation -Time planning and management -Independent work -Enterprising PRACTICAL SKILLS: -IT & GIS -Field Investigations -Computer-based analysis -Laboratory investigations -Data analysis -Devise imaginative research methodologies -Professional presentations INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: -Negotiation -Ethical and professional behaviour -Networking and teamwork -Oral communication -Written communication -Empathy -Listening abilities -Manage meetings WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

What do Geographers do Conti… GEOGRAPHERS CAN: GEOGRAPHERS CAN BE: Make a concise report Handle analyse and interprete data Ask questions and find answers to societal problems Make decisions about an issue of development concern Analyse multi-disciplinary material Organise themselves Think creatively and independently Good communicators Spatially aware Socially and environmentally aware Problem solvers Good team players Computer literate Well rounded, flexible thinkers WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Some Subject Combinations & Possible Career Outcomes GEOGRAPHY  POSSIBLE CAREER Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Science, ICT + Geography Environmental Science, Geology, Meteorology, Geophysics, Surveying, Oceanography, Hydrology, Teaching Mathematics, Business Studies, Economics, Languages, Leisure Studies, Travel and Tourism Banking, Town and Country Planning, Insurance, Housing, Travel and Tourism, Journalism, Teaching Mathematics, Art and  Design, ICT Architecture, Cartography, Surveying, Graphic Design, Teaching WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Some Subject Combinations & Possible Career Outcomes GEOGRAPHY  POSSIBLE CAREER Biology, Chemistry, Leisure Studies + Geography Environmental Health, Recreational Management, Environmental Science, Teaching Health and Social Care, ICT, Psychology, Economics, Sociology Social Work, Retail Management, Personnel Management, Teaching English, Languages, Law, Health and Social Care, History, ICT, Media Studies, Religious Studies Publishing, Law, Journalism, Social Work, Teaching WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

What Can I do With my Geography Degree? MAJOR AREA OF HUMAN PROGRESS INSTITUTIONS/POSSIBLE PROFESSIONS Development Aid Agencies, Charities, Non-Governmental Organizations e.g. British Council, Voluntary Services Overseas, Christian Aid, Population Concern Ecosystems and Environment Estate Manager, Landscape Architect, Conservationist, Forester, Countryside Ranger e.g. National Parks, Environment Agency, British Trust For Conservation Volunteers, National Trust Land and Water Processes Hydrologist, Civil Engineer, Glaciologist, Geomorphologist e.g. Environment Agency, , British Antarctic Survey Map work and Computing Surveyor, Cartographer, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) e.g. Ordnance Survey (OS), other publishers of geographical information, British Library, Health Authorities WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

What Can I do With my Geography Degree? MAJOR AREA OF HUMAN PROGRESS INSTITUTIONS/POSSIBLE PROFESSIONS Population Demographer, Census Officer, Market Researcher, Housing Officer, Social Worker e.g. Local Authorities, Housing Associations, Office Of National Statistics Settlement and Industry Town Planner, Chartered Surveyor, Transport Planner e.g. Local Authorities, Transport Tourism Recreation and Leisure Centre Management, Tourism Officer, Heritage Manager, Travel Agent e.g. Tourism Unit within a Local Authority, Thomas Cook WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Type of Training in Geography & Planning The Department of Geography and Regional Planning, University of Cape Coast currently offers two types of degree programmes (i.e. BA Social Science (Geography) & Bsc. (Geography & Regional Planning) BA Social Science (Geography) major can lead one to three (3) areas of choice depending on interest and capability Physical Geography; Human Geography; and Quantitative Geography. Bsc. (Geography & Regional Planning) can lead one to exploring urban or rural issues of human development. WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

What Job opportunities are out there? What do these courses offer to the geographer in terms of job opportunities? It must be admitted that unlike such professional disciplines as: ENGINEERING, MEDICINE, LAW OR PHARMACY: Some of the modules do not lead directly into any specific profession apart from teaching at the secondary school level; WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography According to a research carried out between 1990 and 2000; There are three (3) main areas where it should be worthwhile for Geography or Planning Graduates to hunt for jobs: Business, Commerce and Industry; The public service, including the Armed Forces; and Politics. WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti… The research further categorized careers under the above three major groups into three: 1) Those into which a Geographical training can lead directly, e.g. secondary school teaching, general administration and politics; 2) Those into which a Geographical training requires additional training, e.g. Estate Management, Urban and Regional Planning; Survey; Cartography; GIS & Remote Sensing, Hydrology and University Teaching and Research; WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti… 3)Finally those in which the premium is not on the specific qualification of the applicant, but on general intellectual ability and on qualities of character and personality, e.g. the Armed Forces Pilot; From a survey carried out on 269 Geography Graduates of the three modules, the following career characteristics were observed: WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti… RANK CAREER AREA PERCENT 1 Teaching 49.4 2 General Administration 17.7 3 Urban and Regional Planning 15.7 4 Business Management 4.8 5 Auditing 2.0 Estate Management 6 Land Surveying 1.6 WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti… RANK CAREER AREA PERCENT 7 Armed Forces 1.6 8 Librarianship 1.2 9 Educational Broadcasting & the Publishing Trade 0.8 10 Soil and Rural Survey 11 Cartography 0.4 12 Journalism WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti… Between 1990 and 2000, another career, Hydrology, was added to the job areas; It was also observed that the percentage for the Teaching Profession dropped from 49.4% to 43.2%; and Urban and Regional Planning increased from 15.7% to 33.0%; Land surveying increased from 2.0% to 3.2%; However, general administration dropped from 17.3% to 7.3. WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

Research Findings & Job Opportunities in Geography Conti… The most important conclusions from the above statistics are: The high percentage for the teaching profession generally but its decline between 1990 and 2000; The sharp decrease in general administration as a profession; Significant increases in the percentages for Urban and Regional Planning, Land Surveying, Armed Forces and the emergence of Hydrology as a profession for a geographer; WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR

WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR Conclusion Thank You; ADAM & EVE; For Your Attention and Participation; WA-GGA-201-EDUCATIONAL-SEMINAR