GeoS4S




GeoServices - 4 - Sustainability

Project No. 561716-EPP-1-2015-1-AT-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP : 2015-18
(GO TO THE MAIN PROJECT WEBSITE)






INTRODUCTION

Ensuring social, economic and environmental sustainability is one major aim of all the countries but priorities are not the same world over. The partner countries, China and Thailand, are fast growing economies attracting a significant share of Foreign Direct Investment but facing a number of social and environmental challenges. Growing cities, expanding industry and increasing pollution of air, water and soil are big problems in both the countries which have several adverse effects on the society, environment and sustainable development.

International geospatial job market is highly versatile and the influence of three main drivers, i.e. Geospatial Data, Geospatial Technology and Geospatial Applications, makes it quite dynamic and fluctuating. The three drivers have continuous and multilateral interactions with each-other, hence, a change in one driver causes a change in the other two. For example, supply of a new type of data triggers demand for required software capabilities for processing and analysis, and a combination of these two facilitates applications in new fields. Likewise, development of a new area of application may need suitable data and enhanced software capabilities. Resultantly, such developments create demand for ‘ready-to-deliver’ geospatial professionals having matching competences. The readiness of the current learners/ students depends on how much they engage themselves in continuously enhancing their skills and competences.

GeoS4S project provides an opportunity to the faculty members as well as the current learners / students to acquire knowledge and skills, in addition to their regular curricula, in an international learning environment.

OBJECTIVES
  • Design the structure and syllabi of 20 innovative modules
  • Develop case study based teaching / learning materials
  • Give ‘hands-on’ practical training of delivering and working with the modules
  • Launch an e-Learning platform for open and free access to the teaching / learning materials
  • Initiate a framework for awarding ‘International Geospatial Qualification Certificate’ to those completing 30 ECTS courses from these modules.
ACTIVITIES
PARTNERS

 Coordinating Institution
AUSTRIA:
 - Interfaculty Department of Geoinformatics - Z_GIS, University of Salzburg, Salzburg
 Partner Institutions

CZECH REPUBLIC
 
- Palacky University, Olomouc
 
GERMANY:
 - University of Sustainable Development, Eberswalde

NETHERLANDS:
 - VU University, Amsterdam

CHINA:
 - Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing
 
- Wuhan University, Wuhan
 - Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography - CAS, Urumqi

THAILAND:
 - Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani
 -
Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai
 - King Mongkut's University of Technology Thornburi


 Associate Partners
NETHERLANDS:
 - UNIGIS International Association
 - Geospatial Media and Communications


THAILAND
:
 - GeoInformatics International

OUTCOMES (see the blogs: Oct-15, Feb-16, Jun-16, Sep-16, Feb-17, Jun-17, Sep-17, Mar-18, Jul-18, Sep-18)
  • Syllabi and Learning / Teaching Materials of 20 innovative modules jointly developed by the partners.
  • 20 faculty members trained in designing and developing the learning / teaching materials of the 20 modules.
  • 50 Faculty members and 150 students trained in working with and delivering learning / teaching materials of the newly developed 20 innovative modules.
  • An e-Learning platform containing learning / teaching materials of the 20 innovative modules for open and free access worldwide.
  • A framework for awarding an ‘International Geospatial Qualification Certificate’.
Contact: Dr. Shahnawaz, Interfaculty Department of Geoinformatics - Z_GIS, University of Salzburg, Austria.