Human society is facing a number of global challenges (e.g. climate change, population growth and migrations, food and energy security). In an effort to solve those challenges decision makers must rely on spatial data (SD). An efficient use of SD requires that they are well structured and directly available. Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) as frameworks to share and re-use SD by public authorities, private sector and citizens, and Earth Observation (EO) as one of the main sources for SD, are key elements for different application domains. Precondition for a successful use of SD are the relevant knowledge and skills in SDI and EO technologies amongst professionals. This means also that institutions of higher education must have the knowledge and capacities to provide modern education to their students and offer professionals the right VET programmes to raise the overall level of expertise in SDI & EO. The region of Northern Africa (NA) is also exposed to the above mentioned global challenges, but is currently facing a lack of SD and EO use in decision and policy making, which is directly related with the lower level of SDI development and the sub-optimal use of EO data. It is therefore essential that academic institutions in NA countries raise their capacities regarding SDI & EO. The SEED4NA project aims to: 1) develop the required knowledge, skills and competencies on SDI & EO within partner universities; 2) help introducing modern SDI & EO courses in engineering and agriculture/forestry studies; 3) implement supporting VET programmes; 4) help partner universities to support the development of SDI in their country and 5) promote a European approach to SDI & EO. SEED4NA will result in the establishment of capable, well trained pools of experts within academic institutions which will introduce in their turn a modern approach in academic and VET education on SDI & EO in their respective countries, thereby becoming promotors of SDI development and EO use.
The main objective of SEED4NA was to improve the quality of higher education in North Africa in the fields of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) and Earth Observation (EO), and enhance its relevance for the job market and society through the development and offering of new and innovative SDI/EO courses. Among the specific objectives were to develop the required knowledge, skills and competencies on SDI & EO and to support the introduction of SDI and EO courses in at the partner universities.
Initiatives to promote and coordinate the sharing of spatial data are emerging in the region of Northern Africa, at the local, national and regional level. Despite the growing availability of data, there are several barriers and challenges hindering the uptake and use of these data. Among these barriers and challenges is a lack of skills and knowledge on Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) and Earth Observation (EO) among key stakeholders, and the aim of SEED4NA was to address these skills needs.
<< Background >> Initiatives to promote and coordinate the sharing of spatial data are emerging in the region of Northern Africa, at the local, national and regional level. Despite the growing availability of data, there are several barriers and challenges hindering the uptake and use of these data. Among these barriers and challenges is a lack of skills and knowledge on Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) and Earth Observation (EO) among key stakeholders, and the aim of SEED4NA was to address these skills needs. << Objectives >> The main objective of SEED4NA was to improve the quality of higher education in North Africa in the fields of Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) and Earth Observation (EO), and enhance its relevance for the job market and society through the development and offering of new and innovative SDI/EO courses. Among the specific objectives were to develop the required knowledge, skills and competencies on SDI & EO and to support the introduction of SDI and EO courses in at the partner universities. << Implementation >> Key activities implemented within the project include a comprehensive skills needs assessment, a multi-stage training program covering different aspects of SDI/EO and how to teach about them, the development of teaching practices and materials on relevant topics, and the preparation and implementation of revised and new courses dealing with SDI, EO and related topics. In additional, several activities also directly targeted professionals and other stakeholders in the geospatial domain. << Results >> The SEED4NA project brought important improvements in the relevance, quality and impact of higher education on SDI, EO and related topics at the eight partner universities in North Africa. Fundamentals of SDI/EO and more advanced topics were introduced in more than 25 different courses, resulting into a new generation of students mastering the key aspects of SDI and EO and able to contribute to future SDI/EO developments in the region of North Africa.