AbstractGIS Education for the Government and Private Agencies Track: Designing GIS Curriculum for Higher Education Author(s): Sergei Andronikov Government agencies and private companies are interested in building a rigorous education/training GIS program tailored to various skill levels of employees. This presentation discusses a proposal originated by the GIS Center of Excellence at George Mason University to build a unique multilevel GIS education and research facility to serve as a training and research center to develop a workforce to meet geospatial needs. It will be a state-of-the-art facility that provides three levels of training. For novices starting a career or for a person seeking a career change, a basic-level course will be offered to provide fundamental skills. At midlevel, GIS analyst and program manager courses will be offered to those with a basic understanding of GIS. The final course will be for business or government executives who will use GIS to make better-informed decisions. An added feature will be the center’s availability to use GIS facilities to conduct geospatial research. Sergei Andronikov George Mason University Geography 4400 University Drive Fairfax, VA 22030 US Phone: 703-993-4243 E-mail: sandroni@gmu.edu |