Geographic Information Science Education at African and Latin American Universities – A Comparative Review
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Eksteen, S.; 2Coetzee, S.; 3Lyew, M.; 4Solis, P.; 5Olivares, M.
1ESRI SOUTH AFRICA Email: sanet@esri-southafrica.com
2UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA Email: serena.coetzee@up.ac.za
3ESRI Email: mlyew@esri.com
4TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY Email: patricia.bennett.solis@gmail.com
5TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY Email: mmoa@geos.tamu.edu
Abstract
This study provides a comparative review of GISc education at African and Latin American universities. We present the results of a desktop study of the websites of 591 African and 876 Latin American universities. We searched for modules and degree programmes in geographic information systems (GIS), GISc, geoinformatics, geomatics and remote sensing. Results indicate that there are overall more universities and more universities per country in Latin America than in Africa, but percentage wise more African universities offer GISc education. Overall, there is one university with GISc education for every 6 million people in Africa, and one for every 3.6 million in Latin America. The study casts significant doubt whether the demand for GISc in tertiary education is currently being met by local universities in Africa and Latin America. More in depth studies are required to evaluate the actual spatial patterns of demand and supply for GISc education, both currently, and as a propspective study for future demand.