Coastal Zone Law - Marine Science

University of Wales, Bangor
University of Cape Town, South Africa

Course Organisers - Dr John Turner (Bangor) and Professor John Gibson (Cape Town)

In April 2002, Professor John Gibson of the University of Cape Town, South Africa provided a 10-credit module in Coastal Zone Law to 26 Masters’ students at the University of Wales, Bangor using the video service.  The video course was a success, illustrating how video can enable specialists to deliver courses from practically any country in the world.

The MSc Course in Marine Environmental Protection in the School of Ocean Sciences, University of Wales Bangor, was initiated 14 years ago because it was recognised that the emergence of the Law of the Sea Convention, and Establishment of Exclusive Economic Zones, has given coastal states extensive and comprehensive rights and obligations over marine resources. 

Coastal Zone Law is a key element in the course and Professor John Gibson is a world-renowned expert in this field.  While at the Cardiff Law School, Professor Gibson visited Bangor over a period of 10 years to provide the Coastal Zone Law course.

Professor John Gibson moved to the University of Cape Town, South Africa in 2001 but agreed to continue to deliver the Coastal Zone Law course by videoconference.  In April 2002, 10 lectures at 2 per day were transmitted from The University of Cape Town and received by 26 MSc students in Bangor.  The course was illustrated in Bangor by Microsoft® PowerPoint® visual aids transmitted by a network link from a computer in the studio in Cape Town.  The course was supported by material available through a web page http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/pbl/jgibson/ and a case study assignment was set and submitted via e-mail.

Each lecture required a link to be made using 4 ISDN lines, and this was done by one of the students, who easily managed the mechanics of the system.  A test session was held one week before to allow the students to get the feel of the equipment.  During the course of lectures themselves, no further technical assistance was needed.

Student feedback indicated that the course was a great success.  Students adapted to the on screen lecturer after two lectures, and the graphics linked extremely well.  Interaction was possible.  The lecturer could see the whole audience, gauge understanding and response, and audience noise did not interfere with the delivery.  Such was the positive response, the course was run again in April 2003, and looks set to become an annual event.

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