centre for geoinformatics – university of salzburg current needs and offerings in gi-related...
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Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
Current needs and offerings in GI-related vocational education
…with a focus on the NATURE-GIS & NATURE-SDI+ Community
VESTA-GIS – NATURE-SDIplus Workshop, Genova
Nov. 6th, 2008
Christoph Traun & Hermann Klug Z_GIS, University of Salzburg
www.zgis.at
Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
2 Traun/Klug 2008
The survey
Aims Assessment of present training needs &
supply for the VESTA-GIS target groups (GIS-professionals, "fresh" graduates within the application domain and INSPIRE)
Design of a suitable metadata structure for the course catalogue
Online questionnaires (104 valid responses / 11 from Nature SDI+) + 16 qualitative interviews
Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
3 Traun/Klug 2008
Target Groups for the survey
For identification of actual demands in GI education public administration officers environmental operators research institutes companies providing GI services that need
qualified skillsFor identification of vocational education supply
academics and professional operators providing vocational
education & training in GI
Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
4 Traun/Klug 2008
General conditions and constraints
90% (100% of NATURE SDI+) of the responding employers rate in-service training of co-workers as important or very important
60% financially support vocational education 45% working time can be set aside for
education (median 10 days/year) very limited resources for vocational education
in small companies Institutions often demand custom tailored
courses one third of education providers deliver this course type
Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
5 Traun/Klug 2008
DurationWhich kind of continuing professional education would you prefer for your co-workers? (n = 62)
1-3 days
up to 2 weeks
Full time comprehensive GIS course
Part time comprehensive GIS course
Response [%]
21,0
16,1
48,4
43,5
Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
6 Traun/Klug 2008
Duration
NATURE SDI+ 1-3 days
up to 2 weeks
Full time comprehensive GIS course
Part time comprehensive GIS course
Response [%]
21,0
16,1
48,4
70,0
Which kind of continuing professional education would you prefer for your co-workers?
Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
7 Traun/Klug 2008
ConstraintsWhere do you see the difficulties in in-service continuing professional education in GI? (n = 65)
Lack of time due to overloadCost factorNo appropriate course availableComplex and unclear GI market situationPersonal reluctanceNo difficultiesNo need for lifelong professional learning
76,9
76,9
27,7
29,2
10,8
3,1
0,0
Response [%]
Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
8 Traun/Klug 2008
Most important quality-benchmark of continuing professional education is the successful application of the acquired skills/knowledge in the job.
Employers value long-term academic education programmes higher than non-academic training certificates.
The choice of appropriate courses is difficult due to the variety of training provided by service institutions such as private companies and universities the “VESTA-GIS certification”
Attitudes towards formal and informal training
results
Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
9 Traun/Klug 2008
Demanded and offered contents in GI technology
Job applicants (1st, n=67)Co-worker (2nd, n=68)GI Service provision (3rd, n=36)
Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
10 Traun/Klug 2008
Demanded and offered contents in natural environment
protection
Which topics need to be addressed? (1st, n=25)Where your co-workers need education? (2nd, n=15)Which aspects are offered in edu programmes? (3rd, n=16)
Centre for Geoinformatics – University of Salzburg
11 Traun/Klug 2008
Demand and Supply related to knowledge on INSPIRE
Less than half of the respondents say their organisations have the knowledge and expertise to apply INSPIRE principles. Within the NATURE SDI+ group 70% say they have this knowledge.
In the context of SDIs both technicians and SDI users require additional training to improve their soft competences like communication skills, co-operative work forms and project management.
13 (of 36) institutions offer vocational education on GI-policy topics (national, INSPIRE and other EU directives, standards … ). Most of them work together with other disciplines (ICT,…) when setting up training on INSPIRE
Dem
and
Sup
ply