[SDI-Africa] RE : SDI-Africa Digest, Vol 22, Issue 7

Fri Sep 22 15:14:07 EDT 2006

Kate,

  Thank you for providing those links and for a very concise explanation of what is happening out there as far as GIS associations and groups. It is good to know that progress is being made, though little, but that is a sign that people are trying. I need to catch up on reading the newsletters. 

  Sewelo
Kate Lance <klance_remote at yahoo.com> wrote:
    Sewelo... in answer to your question whether Universities and/or Colleges should be the leaders in this.... (a little long-winded, but bear with me....)  
  If DFID's new Development Partnerships in Higher Education (DELPHE, http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/pressreleases/pr-15m-higher-education.asp) initiative is any indication.... then yes.... universities have a central role to play in stimulating research, faciltating dialogue, promoting science and technology.....  "Universities across Africa and Asia are the engine rooms of the fight against global poverty."
  Also, Calestous Juma argues that addressing Africa's development challenges requires the creation of a new generation of universities that focuses on solving community problems, http://www.scidev.net/opinions/index.cfm?fuseaction=printarticle&itemid=397&language=1

  ISNAR did some interesting work some years back on the role of universities...
  "In an increasingly competitive world, universities cannot afford to be seen as purely academic institutions only; they are also expected to organize their considerable human and material resources in order to contribute materially to national research and development objectives." 
  http://www.isnar.cgiar.org/publications/briefing/bp59.htm

  This isn't to say that universities should be the leaders of GIS associations.... there are any number of leadership/coordination/communication options.... but universities/colleges could do a lot more towards building more cohesion amongst their local geospatial community members.  For instance, fairly recently, Makerere University initiated an effort to form a GIS association in Uganda, 7 June 2006 (see SDI-Africa, Vol. 5, No. 7).
  http://www.gsdi.org/SDIA/docs2006/jul06links/nat_sdi_uganda.html.   In
  And the Polytechnic of Namibia hosted the 1st Namibian GIS User Conference, 14 October 2005 (see SDI-Africa, Vol. 4, No. 11). The organizers anticipated that the conference would rekindle the Namibian GIS User group, but I can't comment on whether they were successful.   

  I'd like to think there are more examples out there... but just came to mind (since I included something about these in the SDI-Africa newsletters).

Sewelo Sewelo <sewelosewelo at yahoo.com> wrote:
    I agree that things seem one sided here and it is unfortunate because there are so many people on this list. The idea of forming associations is great. Should the Universities and/or Colleges be the leaders in this?

  Sewelo

Kate Lance <klance_remote at yahoo.com> wrote:
    Hi Heinz, thanks for the words of encouragement... it's nice to hear that the information is valued / appreciated.

  This list does tend to seem like a one-sided affair... with me sending message.... with hardly any inputs from others.

  More than just serving as a medium for job information... I really like to see this list as a forum for some dialogue about SDI issues in Africa.

  Robert, what is your reaction to the idea of a GIS association in your country.... is there one.... and what role does it play... and if there isn't one, what do you think of the possibility of forming one... and sustaining it?

  Regards,
  Kate

Heinz Ruther <heinz.ruther at ebe.uct.ac.za> wrote:
  Dear Kate   For what it is worth, I just want you to know that I believe that. you are doing a really great job regarding information about employment opportunities and that your initiative is  extremely  valuable , please keep tit up.   Thank you for the effort   best wishes   heinz ruther 
Professor for Geomatics           Kate Lance wrote:   Robert,I just pass on what I come across online, on the web.  And these tend to be jobs for 'experts'.  I am sure there are more junior positions out there, but the question is how to find out about them. Ideally, your country would have an association of GIS users, and this association would help circulate information about potential opportunties.  Or the local university or center providing GIS training in your area, too, would provide announcements of opportunties.  There needs to be some local focal point that servers as an outlet for circulating job information.  If this does not exist in your country, then I hope you and colleagues can help create such a facility.  It may take time, but you then you help pave the way for a better career environment for yourself and others. Of course, whenever I do hear about opportunties, I pass them on.   I also include news of training opportunities, especially those that provide
 a scholarship or support of some kind to applicants.  Most are included in the SDI-Africa newsletters, http://www.gsdi.org/newsletters.asp.  Or if the deadline comes before the next monthly newsletters is to be published, I sent the details to the SDI-Africa list. If you are not reading the SDI-Africa newsletters, I encourage you to do so. But I am only one person.....   and I don't see many others 'out there' trying to help pass on information about opportunities.  Perhaps if more people made an effort, you would have a better chance of finding an opportunity that suited your needs/expertise. Best of luck. Kate    robert wanie <wanieroberto at yahoo.fr> wrote:       i only want to why all these jobs anonced are only concerned experts? isn't there opotunity to get access to any formation project; because i whould like to be one environmental expert. _______________________________________________ 
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