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<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">This is the
classic........ We will give you licenses for a very low price if
you use our software exclusively for your education and training.<br>
<br>
While it is understandable that the players in the fields would do
this, it is what has caused all the pain regarding vendor lock in
with the software suites in use today. It is exactly because of
this vendor lock situation that the Open Source movement started,
as the only way the break the stranglehold and narrow vision of
the proprietary software houses.<br>
<br>
It is also not great to believe that because you can use a
certain software bundle and achieve a result - (because the
software does all the complex work for you) - that you are
actually competent in your field....... <br>
<br>
It is time that our tertiary institutions go back to basics and
start to teach first principles, and along with that encourage the
students to skill themselves in any suite that fulfils their
needs, not only limited to proprietary software. This will mean
that the tertiary institutions will have to make sure that they
have access to the skill sets required to use and train in the
Open Source applications. Teaching and contributing to the Open
Source developments is crucial to the long term sustainability of
these systems. <br>
<br>
Regards<br>
<br>
Llewellyn<br>
<br>
</font>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 11/08/2014 10:32, Uazukuani wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CADiPWYy1+ZHZnUM-gY6VgND7oQR3K+AmA9FPyAvQOYkgCh=kjA@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr"><span
style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13.333333969116211px">I
agree with Paulo. There was recent advert in Namibia for a
temporary job that required that applicants provide their own
GIS software.</span>
<div
style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13.333333969116211px">
Upon inquiry, the contact person from the ministry stated that
they had no problem with applicants using QGIS or any suitable
FOSS GIS application.</div>
<div
style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13.333333969116211px">
<br>
</div>
<div
style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13.333333969116211px">The
problem however is that most graduates are taught using
proprietary software which they only can access in the
computer labs at university. </div>
<div
style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13.333333969116211px">They
either have to learn QGIS fast or invest a few thousands in
software license to get this temporary gig. </div>
<div
style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13.333333969116211px">
This is an unnecessary (artificial) barrier for many graduates
to entering the job market. Especially so here in Afrika.</div>
<div
style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13.333333969116211px"> </div>
<div
style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13.333333969116211px">
Best,</div>
<div
style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13.333333969116211px">Uazu</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Aug 11, 2014 at 9:07 AM, Chris
Berens <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:chris@mapland.co.za" target="_blank">chris@mapland.co.za</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Hi Gretha,<br>
<br>
I am with Paolo and Frank on this, when the freebie dries up
the<br>
chances of students engaging with the software on an ongoing
basis are<br>
low. People move, being able to take your tools with you is
key to<br>
personal growth.<br>
We've had this discussion some time back and are led by
GITOC's 2007<br>
findings in that "FOSS/OC contribute in meaningful ways to
economic<br>
development generally, and directly support South African
economic<br>
development priorities in particular" - PDF here;<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.gissa.org.za/special-interest-groups/open-source/foss-documents/policy-on-free-and-open-source-software-use-for-south-african-government/at_download/file"
target="_blank">http://www.gissa.org.za/special-interest-groups/open-source/foss-documents/policy-on-free-and-open-source-software-use-for-south-african-government/at_download/file</a><br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
Chris Berens<br>
<div class="HOEnZb">
<div class="h5"><br>
On 11 August 2014 09:48, Paolo Cavallini <<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:cavallini@faunalia.it">cavallini@faunalia.it</a>>
wrote:<br>
> Il 11/08/2014 09:39, Gretha <<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:gretha_g@sun.ac.za">gretha_g@sun.ac.za</a>>
ha scritto:<br>
><br>
>> Thanks! And yes we definitely want to go Open
Source at some point (when there is time...), or at
least include sections in which we use open source
software. I'm also interested in converting these
courses to on-line or distance learning courses at some
point, and then open source would make sense.<br>
>> In the meantime it is worth noting that ESRI
gives us a great deal where enrolled students qualify to
buy a student licence at a minimal fee and get the
entire suite for a year - difficult to refuse!<br>
><br>
> Sorry if I'm rude, but I find this approach short
sighted.<br>
> With Open Source you effectively empower students,
giving them powerful tools they<br>
> can work with for free, improve, and master for
their and their future customers use.<br>
> All the best.<br>
><br>
> --<br>
> Paolo Cavallini - <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.faunalia.eu" target="_blank">www.faunalia.eu</a><br>
> Corsi QGIS e PostGIS: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.faunalia.eu/training.html"
target="_blank">http://www.faunalia.eu/training.html</a><br>
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<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Llewellyn Gush<br>
Information Technology Manager<br>
Joe Gqabi District Municipality<br>
<br>
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