<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:lucida console, sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><div><span>Morning Gavin</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><span><br></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><span>Trust you are well?</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><span><br></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><span>In line with your comments below, is there online GIS "generic" course - perhaps free - that you would recommend.</span></div><div style="color:
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><span><br></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><span>I would like to pursue such a course.</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><span><br></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><span>Regards</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><span><br></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; background-color:
transparent; font-style: normal;"><span>Vusi Masuku</span></div><div><br></div> <div style="font-family: 'lucida console', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div dir="ltr"> <font size="2" face="Arial"> <hr size="1"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span></b> Gavin Fleming <gavinjfleming@gmail.com><br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> africa@lists.osgeo.org <br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, November 20, 2012 1:51 PM<br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [OSGeo Africa] 2013 GIS short courses through Continued Education at University of Pretoria<br> </font> </div> <br>
Good comment Chris<br><br>These UP courses focus on the theory and practice of GIS, not on a <br>particular brand of software.<br><br>So while an ESRI course might cover some theory, it is mainly about how <br>to use ESRI software.<br><br>An ESRI certification means something to an employer wanting an ESRI <br>software expert.<br><br>The international QGIS community is developing a similar type of <br>certification for QGIS. So for employers who ask for a 'QGIS expert', <br>one would show a QGIS certificate.<br><br>A UP or equivalent 'academic' certificate means something to an employer <br>wanting a GIS expert, or expertise in a specific GIS field.<br><br>For instance, an employer asks for a 'spatial database expert' - you <br>show them the 'academic' course certificate. It shows you've covered the <br>generic theory and application of spatial databases. The course just <br>happens to have used PostGIS for the sake of practical software to use <br>in
the course and because FOSS leaves your options open (and because a <br>university should be brand-neutral).<br><br>For training towards professional registration, a 'generic, academic' <br>course is likely to tick more of the accreditation boxes, since the <br>profession is about the theory and practice, not the software.<br><br>Gavin<br><br>On 20/11/2012 12:45, Chris wrote:<br>> Just had a chance to look at these now<br>><br>> Really looks good<br>><br>> I did have a question though ( not intended to become a bun fight but<br>> really asking for some informed opinion )<br>><br>> I notice that the UP courses are going to set the budget back a bit<br>> ( OK -- education is an investment and the courses are within the ball<br>> park for this type of educational program
)<br>><br>> However .........<br>><br>> ESRI now have their own certification program.<br>><br>> One can attend ESRI courses ( not inexpensive )<br>> or<br>> One can obtain the recommended course material for self-study and then<br>> just go and sit the exam. ( about the most cost effective method of<br>> getting a GIS certification ? ) ESRI have extensive free online help.<br>><br>> Perhaps someone could explain the relative "weights" each type of<br>> certification would hold in the work place ? I assume ESRi being ESRI<br>> this would be a globally recognised certification ?<br>><br>> Your thoughts appreciated<br>><br>><br>>
CM<br>><br>><br>><br>><br>> On 16 Nov 2012 at 17:24, Coetzee Serena wrote:<br>><br>>> 2013 GIS short courses through Continued Education at University of<br>>> Pretoria (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.ceatup.com/">www.ceatup.com</a>)<br>>> ================================================<br>> <br>>> 1. Certificate Course in Introductory Geographic Information Systems<br>>> February - June 2013 Web-based with workshops in Pretoria (proprietary<br>>> and open source) and Cape Town (open source only)<br>> <br>>> 2. Certificate Course in Advanced Geographic Information Systems<br>>> February - October 2013<br>>> Web-based learning with workshops in Pretoria<br>> <br>>> 3. GIS Professional Practice<br>>> February - June 2013<br>>> Distance learning with workshops in Pretoria<br>> <br>>> 4. Introduction to Geoinformation
Standards<br>>> 15 - 16 July 2013 in Pretoria<br>> <br>>> 5. Spatial databases with PostGIS<br>>> 25 - 29 March 2013 in Pretoria<br>> <br>>> 6. Introduction to Quantum GIS (on request)<br>>> 7. Remote Sensing (on request)<br>>> 8. The Basics of GIS (on request)<br>> <br>>> For more information, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.up.ac.za/cgis,">www.up.ac.za/cgis,</a> click on 'Professional<br>>> development' or<br>>> http://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=16147&subid=16147&ipklooki<br>>> d=11<br>> __________________<br>> Africa mailing list<br>> <a ymailto="mailto:Africa@lists.osgeo.org" href="mailto:Africa@lists.osgeo.org">Africa@lists.osgeo.org</a> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/africa<br>><br>><br>> _______________________________________________<br>> Africa mailing list<br>> <a
ymailto="mailto:Africa@lists.osgeo.org" href="mailto:Africa@lists.osgeo.org">Africa@lists.osgeo.org</a><br>> <a href="http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/africa" target="_blank">http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/africa</a><br><br><br>-- <br>Gavin Fleming<br>t: 0218620670<br>c: 0845965680<br>f: 0866164820<br>Paarl<br>South Africa<br>18°59'19.6"E 33°44'46.1"S<br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Africa mailing list<br><a ymailto="mailto:Africa@lists.osgeo.org" href="mailto:Africa@lists.osgeo.org">Africa@lists.osgeo.org</a><br><a href="http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/africa" target="_blank">http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/africa</a><br><br><br> </div> </div> </div></body></html>