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GeoSkills program works with students to help boost Canadian competitiveness
As international business competition intensifies, Canada cannot afford to sit idle. Canadians need to continually develop the skills and expertise to thrive in a world fueled by technological change.
Specifically, the Canadian geomatics industry needs employees who can harness the economic, social, and environmental power that geographic information systems and global positioning systems offer our country today.
That's why GeoConnections' GeoSkills program assists students to get a foothold in the geomatics industry.
By funding scholarships and sponsoring students to attend geomatics conferences, we encourage students to enter post-secondary geomatics programs and to pursue geomatics careers. These GeoSkills initiatives help fill a large skills gap in the geomatics sector. Equipped with a highly educated and motivated geomatics workforce, Canada will be far better positioned to reach its economic, social, and environmental goals.
SCHOLARSHIPS NURTURE POTENTIAL… FOR CAREERS-AND FOR CANADA
"The Geomatics Canada Scholarship helped give me the financial freedom to continue as a full-time student and expand my analysis time on my Master's degree project."— Joan Pereverzoff, University of Calgary
Students who received scholarships under the Geomatics Canada Scholarship Program were able to offset the cost of their books, tuition, or other study-related expenses. The Geomatics Canada Scholarship Program is managed by the Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG) and sponsored by GeoConnections and Geomatics Canada, Natural Resources Canada. The program offers numerous important benefits:
- Canada gains by applying geomatics to improve the country's economic and social well—being. The more that people use geomatics to make better decisions in a host of vital areas-from health care to resource management to business development—the more all Canadians stand to benefit.
- Industry also gains. The scholarships strengthen the capacity and international competitiveness of Canada's growing geomatics sector by providing the industry with educated, highly skilled geomatics professionals—a much needed resource.
- Government gains by positioning Canada to succeed globally in the 21st century. The government also fulfills its objective to help young Canadians contribute to their country, pursue education, and apply their business and creative skills.
- Students gain by offsetting some of the steep costs of a modern post-secondary education. The scholarships also improve the students' job prospects by helping them gain marketable skills. And finally, the scholarships enable students to further their geomatics education and research.
Scholarships in action
Jeff Yuen, a University of Calgary student, used his Geomatics Canada Scholarship to present his thesis work at two international scientific conferences. These types of experiences equip Canadians to keep abreast of international scientific developments and to further the advance of science themselves.
"At each of these conferences, I made valuable academic contacts, and I gained familiarity with some of the international work in landscape ecology and with geomatics applications in the field," says Jeff. "As I am currently finishing my MSc degree, these experiences have helped me focus my interests regarding future studies."
By easing the strain of financing post-secondary educations, the Geomatics Canada Scholarship Program is broadening geomatics opportunities for Canadian students throughout the country.
SPONSORSHIPS NARROW THE GEOMATICS SKILLS GAP
"I learned a great deal, made many contacts in industry and academia, and was exposed to the wide variety of geomatics research conducted in Canada and internationally."—Jayanti Sharma
By sponsoring attendance at geomatics conferences and symposiums, GeoSkills is helping to match post-secondary geomatics students and unemployed recent graduates with skills-hungry geomatics companies and organizations. In fact, between May 2002 and December 2003, GeoSkills sponsored 44 Canadians to attend 10 such events. The contacts and insights these conferences offer can open doors to opportunities available nowhere else.
How participants responded
Here's what some participants said about their sponsorship experiences:
"I had never been to a conference of any kind, let alone one that seemed so tailored to my interests. The conference afforded me the chance to meet with speakers, ask questions, and receive advice and input on how to become more involved with this area of geographic information systems."—Fiona Akins
"The relationships developed at this conference, I believe, will contribute invaluably to the spirit of collaboration that we are striving to develop in the geomatics industry."—Ryan Audette
"The opportunity to participate in such an event has greatly enhanced both my understanding of and appreciation for geomatics."—Karen Russell
"The pre-symposium tutorial, technical tour, and presentations all increased my geomatics knowledge and experience and will positively affect my research."—Samer Diarbakerly
As these comments suggest, sponsorships offer opportunities to learn about geomatics in real-life settings. This exposure could be the first step to many long and rewarding geomatics careers.
FORGING A PRODUCTIVE FUTURE
The Geomatics Canada Scholarship Program and the GeoSkills conference sponsorships offer Canada a way to meet its need for a well-educated, specialized geomatics workforce. With this investment, Canada's fledgling geomatics industry will be well prepared to meet the challenges that await both at home and on the international stage.
| GeoConnections is a national partnership initiative led by Natural Resources Canada to build the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) and make Canada's geospatial databases, tools, and services readily accessible on-line. |