1. Addressing the challenges of a Quarter Century of GIScience Education WALIS Forum 7-8 November 2013 Professor Bert Veenendaal Head of Department

2. 1988 – 2013 25 years of GIScience at Curtin 1988 – commenced Graduate Diploma GIScience 1992 – first Bachelor of Science (GIS) program in the world 2001 - One of the first fully online programs available internationally We have a lot to look back on. And even more to look forward to.

3. Education pathways Schooling TAFE/ college Undergrad degree Workforce Hons, p/g degree Research degree CPD GIScience higher education curriculum

4. GIScience higher education programs GI Systems – 1990s Focus primarily on technology and applications GI Science – 2000s Fundamental concepts, implementation, application, use in society GI Integrated – 2010s Geospatial workflows, integration into business & applications, multi-disciplinary collaboration

5. Building curriculum for whom? Knowledge & skills GIScience Other spatial Other disciplines Geospatial specialists Education programs Spatial professionals Other professionals Traditional situation

6. Building curriculum for whom? Knowledge & skills GIScience Other spatial Other disciplines Geospatial specialists Education programs Spatial professionals Other professionals Traditional situation Curricu- lum

7. Building curriculum for whom? Knowledge & skills GIScience Other spatial Other disciplines Geospatial specialists Spatial professionals Other professionals Education programs Today’s situation

8. Building curriculum for whom? Knowledge & skills GIScience Other spatial Other disciplines Geospatial specialists Spatial professionals Other professionals Curricu- lum

9. Origins of GIScience at Curtin University Graduate Diploma in GIS BSc(GIS) – world’s first Offered GIS unit fully online Grad Cert, Grad Dip, MSc (Geospatial Sc) fully online 1988 1992 1999 2001

10. The challenges to meet “an additional 2,474 surveyors, 608 spatial scientists, 271 technicians and 180 ‘other’ professionals will be required to meet forecast levels of construction activity and to cover for the replacement of existing employees” [Determining the Future Demand, Supply and Skills Gap for Surveying and Geospatial Professionals, BIS Shrapnel report for Consulting Surveyors National, Jan 2013] 10% gap/short in 2016, 15% gap/short in 2019 Declining student numbers nationally Declining spatial programs in higher education in Australia Declining autonomy for spatial sciences departments Engaging the stakeholders to provide a unified, rationale and convincing stance for spatial sciences education

11. University of the future A 2012 Ernst & Young report, titled University of the future: A thousand year old industry on the cusp of profound change called on universities to specialise by targeting certain student groups, use their assets more efficiently and partner more closely with industry or be left behind Source: http://theconversation.com/universities-must-adapt-or-perish-report-10293

12. Higher Educ drivers Democratisation of knowledge and access Digital technologies Integration with industry Global mobility Contestability of markets & funding Adapted from: University of the future, Ernst & Young 2012, p. 6 Five drivers of change

13. Comprehensive Course Review process 2011-2013 User Needs Analysis: survey of industry, graduates, educators International scan and benchmarkingCurriculum mapping and analysisReview and refinement

14. GISc programs - strengths Authentic course work Student centred learning experiences Comprehensive across a full range of factors Largest and strongest GIS program in Australia Growing numbers of students from other courses in GIS units Improving retention; maintain strategies Pass rates Good employment prospects Projected skills shortages

15. GISc programs - gaps Formalisation of internships/fieldwork to enhance Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Rethinking delivery models Scaffolded curriculum Specific units need targeting (eVALUate student feedback) Assessments (feedback, standards, expectations) Teamwork, communication (written and spoken), intercultural aspects, community engagement, independent learning

16. Development of GIScience Curricula 1990 NCGIA core curriculum (original) 2000 NCGIA core curriculum (revised) 2006 GIS&T Body of Knowledge 2010 Geospatial Technology Competencies Model

17. The original classic curriculum! Peter Burrough’s text on Geographic Information Systems, 1986 Peter Alan Burrough 26 August 1944 – 9 January 2009

18. GIS&T BoK 2006 330 topics organised into 73 units and 10 knowledge areas Identifies discipline- wide foundational and advanced topics Provides flexibility for application into programs and courses

19. Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM) 2010 United States Department of Labour

20. GIScience Higher Education Framework

21. Yr 4 3 2 1 Graduate attributes Discipline-specific (Advanced + Workplace Core+ Advanced Academic +Core Spatial education model Minors +Honours Discipline-specific (Advanced + Workplace Discipline-specific (Core + Advanced) Foundational (Academic + Core) Discipline-specific (Advanced + Workplace Discipline-specific (Core + Advanced) Foundational (Academic + Core) Industry Geographic Information ScienceSurveying Mine & Eng Surveying

22. BSc (GIScience) - Distribution and analysis of Graduate Attributes

23. BSc(GIScience) - distribution and analysis of Level of Thinking

24. BSc (GISc) - Measures & analysis Assessment types, learning experiences

25. Directions and conclusions Maintain currency & relevance of knowledge, skills and applications in a fast-changing and developing environment GIScience curriculum that is adaptable and flexible to needs of a wide diversity of users/students/professionals Incorporate work-integrated learning (WIL) activities and strategies Challenge is to maintain relevance, authenticity and focus on industry and career-path needs and opportunities Challenge is to promote career paths and attract students into the core & related disciplines

26. Thank you We have a lot to look back on. And even more to look forward to.