Hi Frank, here are some of my PERSONAL views. Programming skills and GIS: In developing countries like India, GIS and Software (GIS) development in education rarely have much common ground in general. So experts in GIS need not necessarily be software developers.
The students of computer-science (a general term) rarely develop code for GIS, as they are probably much in demand elsewhere. It is a fact that 'Google summer of code', may not be an option for young programmers, as their interest is primarily is to land a well paid job, which is again industry(developed world) driven. GIS in educational institutes: Markus Neteler visited and did some work with Anna University Chennai, in early nineties, and they still show GRASS GIS in their syllabus. But unfortunately there are no takers. There are more than a hundred (an approximation) institutes and universities in India that offer courses in Geomatics, Remotesensing, including the IITs( top educational institutes of the land). All of them teach proprietary GIS (ARC and ERDAS) and image processing software. The reason, they are driven by the industry's needs, and it is a fact that jobs are there for those well versed in proprietary software. Government Institutes: The Indian state and central governments spend lot of funds in GIS and they all work with proprietary software. Incentives and encouragement: The OSGeo India is conducting capacity building workshops to introduce FOSS GIS to those who are already knowledgeable in proprietary GIS. The OSGeo India is in touch with educational institutes and is showing them the option of FOSS GIS, by even offering some joint projects. However students are wary as they find jobs, only if they are proficient with Proprietary GIS. OSGeo as an encouragement can provide scholarships for those excelling in FOSS GIS. The code developers may be offered projects in FOSS GIS, and suitably rewarded. Selected students can be offered visits to GRASS Capital Trento, to Germany for Qgis and to Canada where FOSS GIS has routes. Outsourcing FOSS GIS work: Development of data-sets from paper maps as well as code-development for customisation of FOSS GIS, may also be considered as incentives for attracting young talent. Bright future for FOSS GIS: We are aware that the projects will turn into testimonials for FOSS GIS within an year or two, and to sustain further development in the FOSS GIS projects, students will be employed with knowledge in FOSS GIS. Last word: GIS is already entrenched in India, but can only reach 'GRASSroutes' through FOSS GIS. Ravi Kumar ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/222 _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss