Fieldwork in Mallorca on a Shoestring
Mallorca
4 days from £375pp
Based on 45 students and 5 free teacher places
Developing your students' fieldwork skills abroad is often considered a luxury that cannot be justified. But the affordability of Mallorca means that fieldwork on the island doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, Mallorca not only competes with the cost of doing fieldwork at home, it often beats it.
Mallorca is probably best known for being a popular holiday destination. The island's economy survives on tourism, making it a perfect choice for students looking at the effects of tourism on the community. But Mallorca is also undergoing a process of conflict and change and the island is full of a variety of outstanding and contrasting landscapes which gives apt opportunity to explore an even wider range of topics than you’d expect.
This itinerary showcases just two topics students will focus on, but visit our fieldwork page to discover the variety of topics that can be studied during your time on this epic island.
Introduction to Mallorca and fieldwork preparation
As you leave Palma Airport and head for your hotel, you’ll be immediately hit by the view of the mountains ahead, an initial glimpse at Mallorca’s unbeatable geography.
You will then be met by one of the tutor guides from the Es Pla Education Centre who will give you an introduction to the beautiful island and to the topics you will be studying during your stay.
Sea grass conflicts and stakeholder awareness
Today’s fieldwork topic will be centred around sea grass conflicts and stakeholder awareness.
Before the arrival of mass tourism in Mallorca, coastal processes and systems were largely unaffected by human interference. Coasts were naturally protected by dead seagrass leaves and water transparency was aided by seagrass meadow sediment retention. However, since the popularity of Mallorca as a tourist destination has grown, the impact of human activity has been considerable. An estimated 46% of underwater seagrass meadows in Mallorca have been affected and there has also been increased beach erosion.
Your students will head to the stunning coastline of Mallorca and visit places such as Cala Bona and Cala Millor.
Here they will study the current situation; the causes of the decline; the level of awareness among stakeholders, the conflicts between them; and the possibility of applying sustainable coastal management policies.
Water security fieldwork: Threats, solutions, conflicts and impacts
Day 3 will be focused on the issue of water security in Mallorca.
Every community needs freshwater to survive. When it comes to giving the community fresh water, planning, sources, usage and infrastructure should all be considered. For a small Mediterranean island with limited supplies of freshwater, whose economy relies on tourism, water security should be at the heart of every political, social and economic debate.
Students will investigate and understand the issue of water security using the island of Mallorca as a case study. The study includes different site visits. Each site focuses on a different aspect of water security in order to obtain an overview of the subject.
Free time in Palma City
Conclude your exploration of Mallorca with a visit to its capital city, Palma.
Half the population of Mallorca live in this stunning city and it is easy to see its appeal. Wander down the narrow streets lined with unique aristocratic houses, gaze in wonder at the impressive gothic style cathedral and take in the views of the city from the iconic Bellver Castle. Pop into one of the many authentic cafes and buy your souvenirs to take home with you.
Trip Notes:
This itinerary is based on a group size of 45 students and 5 teachers travelling in April 2020.
All of our fieldwork trips are bespoke. If you are interested in designing an itinerary with a different topic as focus, for a different time of year and different group size, simply get in touch with our Mallorca experts.
Curriculum links
Geography
- Water resources
- Coastal processes, landforms & management
- Urban change & growth
- Tourism
- Rural rebranding
- Sustainability
6 Reasons to Choose Mallorca for your Next School Trip
Mallorca may not always spring to mind when planning a school trip, but this little Spanish island really does tick all the boxes when it comes to adventure, sightseeing and a host of activities. To help inspire you, here are six reasons why we love Mallorca.
School Trip Launch Pad
We know that the real job of selling a school trip is down to you and your colleagues so we've collated some helpful resources for you to use to make sure you not only get the buy in from your students and their parents, but also that you have all the details you need to ensure a simple planning process.
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Links to resources
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Fieldwork in Mallorca
Discover our fieldwork in Mallorca and the wide range of topics you can investigate with the Es Pla Education Centre
Partnership with the Geographical Association
Discover the World Education is proud to be a strategic partner with the Geographical Association.
A Student Guide to Responsible Travel
This guide is packed full of useful hints and tips to help guide students to make responsible and sustainable choices whilst travelling abroad.
