Geography drills core into subject handbook

A new publication, Improving Students' Communication Skills in Geography, is the latest in a series that aims to help embed key skills in the geography curriculum.

It was written by Sue Burkill and Derry Corey of the College of St Mark and St John and Mick Healey of Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, as part of a Pounds 100,000 Department for Education and Employment project to promote best practice in geography departments.

Professor Healey, the project director, said: "There are a lot of generic books about teaching key skills, but embedding it in a discipline is probably a more effective way of getting through to students and staff."

The project consortium of geography departments from ten universities and colleges is due to complete the series of eight teaching and learning guides by April.