GIS certification – Endorsed by the ECDL Foundation.

GIS certification – Endorsed by the ECDL Foundation. http://www.ecdlgis.com

M. Salvemini, G. Mattiozzi, L. Berardi, P. Di Donato AICA LABSITA www.aicanet.itwww.labsita.org

AGENDA • The partners of the project • What is the paper about and background • The GIS certification project details • The EU dimension • The path ahead

GIS certification : who is involved • AICA • Not-for-profitorganization, founded in 1961 • Founder of IT certifications in Italy • Italian chapter of ECDL Foundation • LABSITA • Others involved: • Politecnico di Torino , Politecnico di Milano • University of Bologna , University of Siena • ESRI Italia and Intergraph Italia , ESRI and Intergraph corporation • CEMAGREF, France • UPSAM Spain • University of West Hungary • University of the Federal Armed Forces, Germany • Van Hall Instituut, Netherlands • University of Utrecht • Coastal and Marine Resources Centre, ERI, University College Cork, Ireland

GIS certification : specialized ICT European certification programs • The European certification programs in the ICT sector. The STANDARD: • Analysis based on the labor market demands • Jointly developed by teams of experts • Different levels of certification (basic user, professional, specialized) • Standard system : • - Syllabus (requested competences) • - Question and Test Base –QTB- (tests)

ECDL and ICDL around the world • Currently available in 138 countries, in Europe, China, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, Chile, etc. • Translated into 32 languages • 4.5 mil. registered students • 2.0 mil. certificated (October 2004) • 300,000 tests each month

GIS certification – Endorsed by the ECDL Foundation • System of certifications of competences about the professional knowledge related to the basics of the computer science and its components used in the GI&GIS field. Levels : Base (endorsed) Advanced Professional

GIS certification : candidates and users • They who wish to demonstrate to have a robust knowledge of basic principles governing the GI techniques and their basic use through a specific software. • They who wish to have evidence that the GIS users have certificated basic competences.

GIS certification Base syllabus STANDARD : it follows the structure of the European certification programs syllabus in the ICT sector

GIS certification Base syllabus It is organized in  3 Modules • Module 1: Cartography. • Categories : 6 • Knowledge areas : 18 (e.g. reference systems, coordinates, geometry, Italian cartography, EU cartography, digital cartography , metadata , etc.) • Knowledge items : 36 • Tests : about 120

GIS certification Base syllabus • Module 2: GIS • Categories : 5 • Knowledge areas : 12 (e.g. basic concepts, scale, modeling the reality, topology, spatial analysis, classification, etc.) • Knowledge items : 40 • Tests : about 120

GIS certification Base syllabus • Module 3: Use of a GIS software. • Requires the candidate to demonstrate the ability to use a GIS software. • Developed in conjunction with ESRI and Intergraph. • The candidate shall be able to accomplish everyday tasks associated with basic use of GIS commands. • The module is using the homogeneity of knowledge areas and items necessary to drive a GIS software respecting the peculiarity of the commands. • It may run in open source sw ( e.g. QGIS, etc.)

Certification features • Quality check, transparency, standard (syllabus), certificated test center, continuous checking (e.g. audit, etc.) • Anonymous tests evaluation • Vendor neutrality (tests are independent, commands depend on sw.) • Multilanguage

References • The ECDL Foundation has analyzed the project and has given the endorsement • In EU the subject has been explored also within AGILE, EUGISES and EC GI&GIS conferences (Kemp, Toppen, and others); • EU projects have addressed and explored the issue, some are still running (HUMBOLDT, VESTA-GIS). • Some educational and training activities are related (Unigis, National initiatives, etc.)

EU perspective Basic knowledge is only the start for vocational training, higher education and professional specialization • ECDL-GIS as a facilitator for INSPIRE data and principles diffusion and better using • ECDL-GIS as a common reference layer for EU GI • ECDL-GIS for facilitating professional mobility and vocational training • ECDL-GIS as basis for building scientific knowledge (e.g. courses, etc.) and specialized skills (e.g. sw training) • VESTA-GIS “endorsment” as a specific facilitator for INSPIRE data handling and sharing.

GIS certification and VESTA-GIS • CERTIFICATION OF KNOWLEDGE IS ONLY IN THE HANDS OF ECDL PROGRAMME (ECDL FOUNDATION) • ECDL-GIS base, advanced and professional certifies people • ENDORSMENT OF CURRICULA MAY BE IN THE HANDS OF VESTA-GIS • VESTA-GIS endorses courses and curricula

GIS certification and VESTA-GIS System of certifications of competences about the professional knowledge related to the basics of the computer science and its components used in the GI&GIS field. Levels : Base – used for GI professional checking (GIS certification endorsed) Professional – for applicant domains “VESTA-GIS endorsment of Curricula and specific Modules”

LabSITAwww.labsita.org Email labsita@uniroma1.it Responsible Mauro Salvemini mauro.salvemini@uniroma1.it Reference Laura Berardi laura.berardi@uniroma1.it

GIS certification – Endorsed by the ECDL Foundation.