Wednesday, March 22, 2017

EPU Central Asia 'Novruz' event in Vienna

The Austrian Eurasia-Uninet (EPU) initiative on March 22nd had invited scholars, students and officials from Central Asia and anyone involved with regional projects to the Austrian University of Veterinary Medicine. The aim of this meeting was the sharing of experiences, building of networks and development of plans for further cooperation.Several gSmart students from Villach used this opportunity to connect with the wider community involved with this region.

Dr Ainura Nazarkulova from the University of Salzburg started the conference with a presentation of the Austria - Central Asia Center of GIScience. She highlighted the overall mission of this center, introduced the GISCA series of conferences and focussed on the capacity building initiatives including Tempus and Erasmus projects as well as the UNIGIS distance learning program.

This presentation set the stage for a series of short presentations on topics like historical as well as modern Silk Road, resource and forest management in the region and cultural specifics connecting the past with the present.

EPU hopefully with continue to support the cooperation of Austrian with Central Asian universities, and to serve as a hub as well as a 'crystallization point' for joint research and capacity building.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Recommended Reading: GISc&T Educational Directions

Strobl, J. 2017. Geographic Information Science and Technology: Educational Directions. The International Encyclopedia of Geography. DOI: 10.1002/9781118786352.wbieg1026

Abstract
Geographic information science and technology education has evolved into a multidisciplinary undertaking supporting academic and professional qualifications and professions. With strong conceptual foundations in geography, motivated by application domains including planning, ecology, engineering, and infrastructure management, and facilitated by technologies and computer science, educational programs and underlying curricula are now offered worldwide. This entry explores the academic backgrounds, curriculum initiatives, and models for study programs in, for example, geoinformatics, including traditional frameworks as well as continuing education, distance learning, and noncredit and informal learning. Best practice by worldwide institutions and actors is well documented through collective experience as a foundation for developing new directions accommodating novel technological and conceptual developments.

'The International Encyclopedia of Geography: People, the Earth, Environment, and Technology' >> Link to all abstracts.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

gSmart scholars in Sopron, HU

From February 1, 2017,  the University of West Hungary Faculties of Sopron had been restructured and renamed to University of Sopron.

gSmart scholars are ‘incomings’ in Sopron at the University of Sopron, former UWH. This project partner university is currently hosting 6 Master level students, 2 PhD students, and 1 PostDoc researcher. 3 MSc students have already successfully finished their studies as well as 2 bachelor level exchange students. You will find more information about those scholars on their individual gSmart e-portfolios.

University of Sopron, Faculty of Forestry
Institute of Geomatics, Forest Opening-up and Water Management
Department of Surveying and Remote Sensing
gSmart contact in Hungary: Prof. Andrea Pődör and Prof. Géza Király