[ Qualifications ]
[ Principal Interests ] [ Research
Supervision ]
[ Biographical Note ] [ Publications ] [ Further
Information ]
Qualifications
 See
qualifications details on the Outdoor Education website
Principal
Interests
- Theory, philosophy and
practice of outdoor education
- International comparative
approaches to outdoor education
- Coaching and skill acquisition
in outdoor activities
Research
Supervision
Peter
currently supervises a number of research students
and research assistants (from the UK, Europe, Scandinavia,
North America, Japan, Africa and Australasia who
are studying a wide range of topics in Outdoor and
Environmental Education in the context of the UK,
Europe and other parts of the world.
Biographical
Note
Professor Peter Higgins holds
a Personal Chair in Outdoor and Environmental Education at Moray House
School of Education at the University of Edinburgh. The department has
an international reputation and is one of few in the world with both a
practical and teaching orientation as well as substantial research interests
in the field of 'learning outdoors'. The focus of the work of the Outdoor
Education section is to prepare critically aware professionals to teach
within and improve practice in the sector, and also to make a significant
contribution to research and knowledge in the field. Peter's national and
international contribution has recently been recognised by the University
of Edinburgh through the award of a Personal Chair, the only one in the
field in the UK and Europe.
Peter's early career was as an
environmental scientist and freshwater biologist before training as a teacher
of Outdoor Education and Biology. He holds a wide range of high-level UK
and European governing body teaching awards notably in canoeing/kayaking,
free-heel skiing and mountaineering, in all of which he retains a strong
recreational interest. He has taught at several UK outdoor education centres
as well as in New Zealand, and is a member of a number of national and
international panels and advisory groups on outdoor and environmental education.
These include several European Union and UNESCO educational projects. He
has also acted in advisory capacity to the UK and Scottish Governments
on Outdoor and Environmental Education, access to the countryside and related
environmental issues. He has held advisory roles with a wide range of outdoor
and environmental educational providers and agencies and has contributed
to their continuing professional development.
He is the author of over 70 articles
and co-editor of several books relating to these fields. Through individual
and collaborative (with other UK and European universities) research grants
and consultancy activities he has attracted income of over £520,000.
He is responsible for a range
of Outdoor
Education and Environmental Education programmes. Of these,
and notable for its 35-year history is the Postgraduate Diploma and Masters
degree in Outdoor Education which is unique in Europe and one of the few
in the world. It has a high national and international reputation, attracting
students from many parts of the world. He teaches both academic and practical
aspects of these and other programmes in the university.
Publications
Publications
are listed on
the Outdoor Education website
Further
Information
Further
information on the Outdoor Education website
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