[OSGeo Africa] Introduction to GIS & Remote Sensing short courses

[Llewellyn Gush]

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.

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.

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.......

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.

Regards

Llewellyn

On 11/08/2014 10:32, Uazukuani wrote:
> I agree with Paulo. There was recent advert in Namibia for a temporary
> job that required that applicants provide their own GIS software.
> Upon inquiry, the contact person from the ministry stated that they
> had no problem with applicants using QGIS or any suitable FOSS GIS
> application.
>
> The problem however is that most graduates are taught using
> proprietary software which they only can access in the computer labs
> at university. 
> They either have to learn QGIS fast or invest a few thousands in
> software license to get this temporary gig. 
> This is an unnecessary (artificial) barrier for many graduates to
> entering the job market. Especially so here in Afrika.
>  
> Best,
> Uazu
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 11, 2014 at 9:07 AM, Chris Berens <chris at mapland.co.za
> <mailto:chris at mapland.co.za>> wrote:
>
>     Hi Gretha,
>
>     I am with Paolo and Frank on this, when the freebie dries up the
>     chances of students engaging with the software on an ongoing basis are
>     low.  People move, being able to take your tools with you is key to
>     personal growth.
>     We've had this discussion some time back and are led by GITOC's 2007
>     findings in that "FOSS/OC contribute in meaningful ways to economic
>     development generally, and directly support South African economic
>     development priorities in particular" - PDF here;
>     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
>
>     Regards,
>     Chris Berens
>
>     On 11 August 2014 09:48, Paolo Cavallini <cavallini at faunalia.it
>     <mailto:cavallini at faunalia.it>> wrote:
>     > Il 11/08/2014 09:39, Gretha <gretha_g at sun.ac.za
>     <mailto:gretha_g at sun.ac.za>> ha scritto:
>     >
>     >> 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.
>     >> 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!
>     >
>     > Sorry if I'm rude, but I find this approach short sighted.
>     > With Open Source you effectively empower students, giving them
>     powerful tools they
>     > can work with for free, improve, and master for their and their
>     future customers use.
>     > All the best.
>     >
>     > --
>     > Paolo Cavallini - www.faunalia.eu <http://www.faunalia.eu>
>     > Corsi QGIS e PostGIS: http://www.faunalia.eu/training.html
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>
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-- 
Llewellyn Gush
Information Technology Manager
Joe Gqabi District Municipality


Email llewellyn at jgdm.gov.za
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