Geographic Information Technology and Innovative Teaching: Keys to Geography Degree Curriculum Reform

The adaptation of geography studies to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) framework has led to curriculum-content restructuring and new teaching and learning methods. This transformation was used as an opportunity to adjust the students' skills more fittingly to their future professional needs. The new degree program in geography, land-use planning, and environmental management at the University of Girona (Catalonia, Spain) offers a sequential learning trajectory based on the treatment of geographic information and progressive levels of experience: GIS technician, GIS analyst, and TIS project manager. Technical innovations have been introduced through free and open-source programs as well as collaborative online resources (wikis) that enable students to acquire full autonomy.