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You are in:  Home » About SCAR » Education & Training » Graduate Study

Capacity Building

Graduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies (GCAS) Survey
Gateway Antarctica, November 2003

Prepared by: Yvonne Cook, 9 December 2003

• Click here to download this page as a PDF file
• Graduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies (GCAS)
• Summary
• Conclusions
• Appendix A
• Appendix B
• Appendix C
• Appendix D
• Appendix E
• Appendix F
• Appendix G

Overview and summary

• The University of Canterbury’s Graduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies (GCAS) is a New Zealand Vice Chancellor’s Committee-approved graduate-level course that runs over the summer period.
• GCAS was established in 1998 through a partnership between the University of Canterbury and Antarctica New Zealand also involving wide consultation especially with other interested tertiary institutions.
• GCAS provides its graduates with a multidisciplinary education in Antarctic affairs, with New Zealand focus, but based on the international knowledge and policy context.
• The course is coordinated by the Gateway Antarctica research centre at the University of Canterbury, and taught by academics and practitioners in Antarctica from around New Zealand and overseas
• The course is taken predominantly by people with a scientifically-oriented first degree.
• Most students taking the course are professionals taking leave from their career to be able to take the course.
• The majority of participants are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents. 10% of respondents came to New Zealand specifically to enrol in the course (mostly from the UK).
• GCAS has been very successful in stimulating and enabling the involvement of its graduates in Antarctic and Southern Oceans work after graduation. 52% of respondents currently, or at some stage since graduation from GCAS, have had direct or indirect involvement with Antarctica and/or Southern Ocean issues in their professional lives, with employers ranging from the Antarctic Heritage Trust, to NASA, to Antarctica New Zealand, to the Peruvian Diplomatic Service. Within this group, 24% regularly incorporate knowledge of Antarctica into their current professional work (in teaching, environmental work), and 7% are in professional positions with direct and regular involvement in Antarctic affairs. A significant proportion (23%) of graduates have gone on to Antarctic-related post-graduate research degrees in their disciplinary specialty.

Background to the GCAS

The Graduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies (GCAS) is a multidisciplinary, summer- only course. The course was developed in 1998 jointly between the University of Canterbury and Antarctica New Zealand, in consultation with government agencies, the New Zealand Antarctic community and the wider international Antarctic community. The course was approved by the Tertiary Resourcing Division of the Ministry of Education in October 1999. The course comprises 632 hours of study over a 14 week period. Although the course is hosted by the University of Canterbury the course has maintained a national and international focus. The course was coordinated for years 1 to 3 by Professor John Hay (University of Auckland) and Dr Brian Stewart (University of Otago). Following the establishment of Gateway Antarctica, the course has continued to be co ordinated by Brian Stewart assisted by Professor Bryan Storey (Gateway Antarctica). Course tutors have been drawn from throughout the length and breath of New Zealand. The international focus has been maintained via video links to the UK, US and Australia and through inviting visiting academics from the US, UK and Australia using the university Erskine Fellowship scheme.

Purpose and goals of the GCAS

The aim of the GCAS is to provide a contextual programme of study for graduate students and members of the professions who have an interest in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The programme has the following goals:

1. To provide students with sufficient disciplinary background in order to understand interdisciplinary issues in relation to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
2. To engage students in critical examinations of a selection of the contemporary scientific, environmental, social and political debates with respect to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
3. To translate classroom learning into practical field studies within the Antarctic environment and understand the constraints of working in such extreme conditions.
4. To stimulate able and motivated students to take post graduate studies or contribute more effectively to their profession and community in connection with Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

Aims of this survey

The aim of this survey is to see if objective 4 above is being met. In particular, are graduates pursuing post-graduate research? Are they working in relevant professions or organisations? Are they able to make a significant contribution to their profession and/or community as a result of participating in GCAS?

Introduction

88 people have completed the GCAS in the five years since it was initiated in 1998. Of these 55 (62.5 %) are female and 33 (37.5 %) are male.

58 participants (66%) replied to the survey. Information for the remaining students was obtained when possible from other sources (such as GCAS application forms).

Where data are presented below, the second column indicates the number of people involved. This column is followed by the percentage that number represents of the people who responded to that question.

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Background information

Age of participants at the start of the course (data for 69 participants)

Qualifications prior to starting the course

Highest qualification (data for 78 participants)

Degree subject (highest degree) (data for 75 participants)

58% of participants were qualified in one of seven fields before starting the course

The remaining 42 % were qualified in the following fields:
2 participants in each of:
Geology; Resource studies/management; Commerce/business; Design; Vet science; Engineering, Art/Fine Art
1 participant in each of:
History; Psychology; Social Science; Medicine; Dentistry; Physical therapy; Philosophy; Biochemistry and nutrition; Maths; English; Film studies; Viticulture; Classics; Business certificate (non-degree); Pilot (non-degree); Diplomatic service (non-degree).

Occupation prior to starting the course (data for 76 participants)

59 % of participants had one of four occupations before starting the course

The remaining 41 % had the following occupations:

2 participants were employed in each of the following fields:

Artist/Photographer; Sales/Marketing; Solicitor; Computer software; Information technology/GIS; Manager; Vet; Engineer.

1 participant was employed in each of the following fields:

Communications; Heritage advisor; Screen writer; Architect; Librarian; Administrator; Physiotherapist; Accountant; Dentist; Outdoor Recreation Tutor; Personal Coach; Business Trainer; Information services, Diplomat; Retired; Unemployed.

Areas of residence (NZ only) prior to the start of the course include the following:

• Auckland
• Blenheim
• Christchurch
• Dunedin
• Geraldine
• Gisborne
• Hamilton
• Lyttelton
• Masterton
• Nelson
• Otaki
• Rotorua
• Taukau
• Tauranga
• Thames
• Upper Hutt
• Waikanae
• Wellington

Citizenship (data for 73 participants)

66 participants (90 %) are either New Zealand citizens, participants from countries with reciprocal study rights or were already in New Zealand on work or study visas at the time of starting the course. Of these, 3 are Australian, 1 is North American and 2 are European.

7 participants (10 %) were not New Zealand citizens and were residing overseas prior to the course as follows:

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Antarctic related work prior to course

3 people (4 %) were directly involved with Antarctic work before starting the course. Employers and number of employees were:

Post-course data

Employment

Antarctic related work after the course

52 % of respondents have been or are currently involved in Antarctic related work.

The three people already working in an Antarctic field before the course continued to work in the same field after they had finished the course. 13 people became involved in work directly relating to the Antarctic immediately after the course (21 %). These data exclude people going onto further Antarctic study (see below).

5 people (7 %) are currently directly involved with Antarctic issues in the course of their regular job. Employers and number of employees are:

18 people (24 %) are currently incorporating their knowledge of Antarctica and Antarctic issues into their professional work as follows:

Other work

20 participants (27 %) employed by the following organisations feel that their knowledge of Antarctic issues has helped them professionally in their job, even though their job is not directly related to the Antarctic:

NIWA, Department of Conservation, Department of the Environment, various Regional and District Councils such as Environment Canterbury, Landcare, New Zealand Water Environment Research Foundation, URS, Otago Museum and various secondary schools.

3 people (4 %) are currently actively increasing their skills and qualifications for specific Antarctic related careers.

Further Study

23 people (40 %) have gone on to further formal study (data for 57 participants).
Antarctic related study
23 % of respondents have gone on to Antarctic related post-graduate study and research comprising the following. (Research topics are included in Appendix A.)

One Doctoral candidate currently holds the Antarctica New Zealand New Zealand Post Scholarship, awarded in 2002/2003 for a three year term. In addition, 1 person applied for postdoctoral funding and 1 person for Doctoral funding; neither were successful. 3 people firmly intend to do an Antarctic PhD in the future. 1 person has applied for science study grants through the Polytechnic and 2 people are lining up potential research collaborators.

1 person has gone on to self funded Antarctic research on history, Shackleton and leadership. 3 people have worked as research assistants, for VUW, for a Dry Valleys research project and with Antarctic satellite imagery.

1 person decided that she is not suited to Antarctic field research.

Non-Antarctic study

17 % of respondents have gone on to non-Antarctic post-graduate study and research most of who were stimulated by the course to return to further study.

Presentations, publications and media coverage

Academic presentations

19 people (25 %) have given Antarctic related academic lectures at tertiary institutions and conferences. Presentations will be made at 4 more conferences in the near future. These institutions and conferences are listed in appendix B.

Academic publications

6 Antarctic related papers have been published in peer-reviewed academic journals.

Professional presentations

Professional presentations (non-academic) have been made by 14 people (18 %) (see appendix C).

Other presentations and publications

This section excludes the numerous and varied presentations and publications given by former GCAS students who are now, or have been, employees of Antarctica New Zealand, Antarctic Heritage Trust or the Antarctic Visitor Centre. It is also excludes the number of lessons and lectures given by the 15.5% of the graduates who are teachers or lecturers at Tertiary Institutions.

28 people (37 %) gave only non-academic talks resulting in more than 160 presentations. Groups spoken to are listed in Appendix C.

Non-Academic articles have been published by 15 people (20 %) (Appendix D).

Radio coverage has been given to two people (3 %) (Appendix E)

Television coverage has been given to 1 person and a documentary proposal is being circulated around international television organisations.

Artistic Exhibitions

6 respondents (8 %) have been involved in public artistic exhibitions (Appendix F).

Other Endeavours

4 non-teachers were involved in preparation of material for schools

4 people are involved in organisational or administrative roles in the New Zealand Antarctic Society and many more attend meetings.

Summary

Involvement of GCAS graduates with Antarctic issues can be summarised as follows:

Conclusions

The results of this survey indicate that the objectives of the GCAS are being met. In particular Antarctic related work and further study feature strongly amongst the occupations of graduates, and associated with these occupations are numerous professional and academic presentations and lectures. Many graduates whose work or study is not directly related to the Antarctic feel that the wide ranging content and learning methods included in the course and the experience of Antarctica as a case study for many topics and scenarios is a great benefit to their occupation (see Appendix H). Outside Antarctic related occupations, knowledge being gained by the graduates is being disseminated throughout a very diverse sector of the community in a variety of ways. This is indicated by the wide variety of backgrounds and personal skills the participants have when they arrive on the course and the wide range of professional and community based activities they are involved with after graduating.
The GCAS has wide national reach, attracting students from throughout the country, and who have graduated from a variety of tertiary institutions. The course also attracts motivated international students who have gone on to pursue Antarctic related careers and studies.

Appendicies

• Appendix A
• Appendix B
• Appendix C
• Appendix D
• Appendix E
• Appendix F
• Appendix G

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