International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B6. Istanbul 2004
course work and 6 months research period) and consists of a
number of modules each module last three weeks and comprises
theoretical lectures, practical assignments, seminars, tutorials,
and in some cases group workshops.
The study load of the ITC degree programmes follow the
European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) developed by the
European Union in order to allow easy comparison of the study
load of courses within Europe and as a means of improving
academic recognition for study abroad.
At ITC. each module of three weeks duration has a study load
of 5 ECTS. In ECTS, 60 credits represent the workload of an
academic year of study.
The MSc course consists of 23 modules and three additional
weeks of remedial teaching, catch-up activities and graduation
ceremony, totalling 118 ECTS.
2.3 Course Curriculum
Participants in both courses in Geoinformatics (PM or MSc) are
introduced to common concepts and theory of geoinformatics
technology in the first seven modules.
After a general introduction in the first module the participants
are expected to have a broad view of the field and to be able to
appreciate their course objectives.
The following three modules are closely integrated, with the
major elements being Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
and remote sensing. These subjects are taught as core subjects
in all the ITC PM and MSc educational programmes and the
aim is to impart fundamental knowledge and to provide a basis
for the rest of the course. In addition, especially for the
Geoinformatics programme, much emphasis is placed on
database principles in these modules.
The following three programme modules deal with the topics
framework data generation, visualisation and dissemination of
geospatial data and the design and operation of integrated GI
production and dissemination systems.
The students of both courses take in addition two elective
modules. The ITC scientific departments offer elective modules
and students are allowed a free choice.
After the common geoinformatics technology modules, MSc
participants continue deepening their knowledge in basic
research skills, spatial information theory, sensor systems and
information extraction and web technology for GIS and
mapping, there are also follow one additional elective module.
During the modules mentioned, the course participants gain
knowledge about Geo-informatics in the programme modules,
related topics in the electives and they were trained in basic
research skills.
The next module is the intermediate between those
modules/topics and the research period.
In the first half of the module the participans will take a course
in structured thesis production which will alow them to create,
under the guidance of one or more supervisors, a research
proposal, which will be the basis for the research that is
executed in the last 6 month of the GFM MSc course. The
proposal should be related to the research fields of the scientific
departments which support the GFM programme, namely the
Earth Observation Sciense and the Geoinformation Procesing
Departments.
14
By the end of this module the proposal will be presented and
defended verbally.
Based on the final thesis research proposal its presentation and
its defence, the Geoinformatics Programme Board will decide
whether the participant will be admitted to the thesis part of the
MSc programme.
For a period of approximatly one week course participants take
part in a study excursion to a number of chosen European
organisation involeved in geoinformatics. These may include
National Mapping Organisations, commercial companies and
research and development institutions.
The final stage of the MSc course is dedicated to the execution
of the research project. Each participant works independently
on the approved research topic.
During the project the students develop their research skills
further and have to demonstrate that they have achieved the
course objectives.
The co-ordinating staff will provide guidelines for the thesis
work. Regular individual progress reports and progress
meetings with the supervisors will monitor the progress on the
thesis. The final outcome will be a report (hardcopy and CD-
Rom) as well as an oral presentation and defence of the thesis.
Because of the great emphasis in the MSc degree course on the
integration of all geoinformatics concepts and the time devoted
to acquiring general research skills, there are no clear
specializations in the MSc Degree course. However, the total of
three elective modules and the six months of MSc research
work provide ample opportunity to select topics of personal or
organisational and national interest.
2.4 Persons involved and Participants
Professors for Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry and
Geographic Information Systems and other ITC staff members
teach the main subjects in the course. For special subjects
lecturers from other Universities and Institutes as well as from
the private sector are invited to contribute with their experience
to the high international reputation of the course.
For admission to the MSc course applicants should have a BSc
degree from a recognised university in a discipline related to the
course that will follow, i.e. Geoinformatics.
The last five years statistics revealed the following facts:
Mean number of participants per course 16.
Percentage of female participants 3896
The courses have really an multinational flavor, typically, per
course, there are participants with 10 different nationalities
From the total number of participants the statistics also illustrate
the following distribution, according to the continents.
Africa 27%, America 11%, Asia 58%, Australia/Oceania 0%
and Europe 4%.
3. ACCREDITATION AND DECENTRALISATION OF
EDUCATION
Accreditation is on the international agenda as a result of the
Bologna Declaration that aims : to create a European space for
higher education in order to enhance the employability and
mobility of citizens and to increase the international
competitiveness of European higher education.
