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<p><tt><font size="2">> In the recent OSGeo survey (</font></tt><tt><font size="2"><a href="http://bit.ly/surveyresultsraw">http://bit.ly/surveyresultsraw</a></font></tt><tt><font size="2">) several <br>
> ideas for diversifying OSGeo income were presented. The one that <br>
> received the highest number of votes (62% 104/167 votes) was: <br>
> <br>
> "Set up a professional training and certification program". <br>
> <br>
> Yes, it was a question short on details, but it was chosen a full <br>
> 15% above all other items. Now's the time to figure out what we allmeant ;-)<br>
> <br>
> There are at least three approaches that might be considered here:<br>
> <br>
> 1. To lead training courses that may also come with a certificate or<br>
> be part of a larger program. (e.g. for users, developers, <br>
> integrators to gain personal knowledge and show it off, maybe in a <br>
> GISP style?)<br>
> 2. To give an organisation a stamp of approval, that their skills or<br>
> staff meet some standard<br>
> 3. To technically certify a product or application - (e.g. as a <br>
> sort of endorsement that the technology meets some OSGeo standard) <br>
> <br>
> I've got a few more ideas kicking around in my head, but was curious<br>
> on your thoughts. Keep in mind the context of the survey question <br>
> was for helping raise funds - that would primarily be through either<br>
> course fees, or through certification fees - a company would pay to <br>
> be assessed and to be able to use the endorsement on an annual basis<br>
> (or something similar). Or some other way maybe?<br>
> <br>
> Anyone else thinking about this or want to weigh-in on what their <br>
> thoughts were?</font></tt><br>
<br>
<tt><font size="2">How about making contact with an existing professional organisation</font></tt><br>
<tt><font size="2">that specialises in providing training to the GIS community?</font></tt><br>
<br>
<tt><font size="2">Like URISA? Urban and Regional Information Systems Association</font></tt><br>
<tt><font size="2">www.urisa.org</font></tt><br>
<br>
<tt><font size="2">or an organisation that specialises in GIS certification? Like</font></tt><br>
<tt><font size="2">the GIS certification institute?</font></tt><br>
<tt><font size="2">www.gisci.org</font></tt><br>
<br>
<tt><font size="2">Cheers,</font></tt><br>
<tt><font size="2">Nick</font></tt><br>
<br>
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