Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
International Associations and the Provision
of Outreach Programmes for Education
and Training
William Cartwright
Abstract The cartographic profession has changed to one that is supported by
contemporary digital production, storage and distribution devices and communica-
tion resources. What also changed are the organisations that conduct mapping
programmes and 'build' repositories of geographical knowledge, digital and mate-
rial. Long gone are the days of large governmental mapping agencies that had their
'tried and true' methods of data capture, processing and dissemination. Today is the
workplace of small government agency; contractors (large and small); regional,
national and global publishing collaborations; and map producer/user. This, in turn,
has led to changes in cartographic education courses, fromwhat could be described as
focused courses to more generalist courses. Gone are the days when a graduate could
accommodate the in-house practices and procedures on day 1 of a job. Everything has
changed, but the underlying need for useful (and usable), accurate and timely
geospatial products remains as the essential underpinnings for what we do.
In order for students to have access to relevant courses and for industry to keep
abreast with developments in technology and contemporary cartography and GI
Science thinking it is important for relevant educational courses to be offered. This
can be done through face-to-face courses or via on-line delivery. The International
Cartographic Association (ICA) is committed to supporting existing educational
courses and providing specialist courses where needed. This paper provides an
overview of the ICA's strategies towards the provision of education, internation-
ally. It also gives examples about how educational courses have been presented by
the ICA's international cartography and GI Science community.
