1. Giedrė Beconytė, Vilnius University / SE GIS-Centras Aušra Kalantaitė, National Land Service Eimuntas Paršeliūnas, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Jurgita Rimkuvienė, HNIT-Baltic 2009 ESRI European User Conference 14–16 October 2009 Online Geographic Information Training for SDI Capacity Building in Lithuania

2. Contents SDI and capacity building 9 courses Implementation Outcome Perspectives

3. LGII: Lithuanian SDI www.geoportal.lt Core systems developed in 2005–2008 Launched in 2009 Efficient access to geographic data More about the project www.gis-centras.lt/LGIIwww.gis-centras.lt/LGII

4. Importance

5. Capacity problem Three aspects of proper use of geographic information Knowledge/understanding (what could be done with it?) Information (is it available? how to get?) Skills (how to manage technically?

6. Education problem General university Knowledge without deep skills Technical university/college Good skills without broad knowledge In-service training Expensive Very limited topics Lack of organisational GIS culture: uneven skills and insufficient mutual understanding

7. Need for additional training Content requirements Newest materials Problem orientation Good balance of theory and practice Organisation requirements Separate courses, consistent system Available up-to-date technology Availability online and flexible schedule Free of charge

8. Project statistics Total value ~880000 EUR

9. 9 online courses Geographic Information (GI) courses: GII-01 Fundamentals of GI systems GII-02 GI organisation and management GII-03 GI Infrastructure standards, specifications and metadata GII-04 GI Infrastructure application areas GII-05 Geographic database management systems GII-06 Geodesy and Cartography for SDI needs GII-07 Spatial analysis and modelling GII-08 Components of GI Infrastructure GII-09 Web programming for GI Infrastructure

10. Course materials Introduction to course List of references and recommended literature Lecture notes (Interactive and text files) Theoretical exercises and practical assignments Tests and quizzes, self-tests, final exam. Supplementary material: slide presentations, audio/video lectures, video seminars, online chat and forums with other students/teachers. Available online in Lithuanian and English www.gismokymai.lt

11. Course structure 10 ECTS each – equal to university MSc level course Practical application of theory proved most interesting and wanted

12. Managers National Land Service (full project management) www.nzt.lt SE GIS-Centras (initial idea and preparation) www.gis-centras.lt Developers HNIT-Baltic www.hnit-baltic.lt Vancouver Island University, Canada www.viu.ca Vilnius Gediminas Technical University www.vgtu.lt

13. Trainees Specialists of state institutions and enterprises, municipalities – 259 persons, 1154 person/courses

14. Implementation 3 semesters I (May-September) Introduction/basics: GII01, GII02, GII06 II (September-December) Application specific courses: GII03, GII04, GII05 III (January-April) More complex courses: GII07, GII08, GII09 Additional time for tests and exams

15. Technological scheme Based on ESRI ArcGIS software DVD ArcGIS 9.2... GII-05 GII-09 ArcGIS server ArcGIS Licence server Blackboard Web resources ESRI Virtual Campus Video lectures Discussions Submissions Evaluations WWW @

16. Implementation

17. Problems Intensity due to short time span allowed for the courses (peculiarity of EU financed projects) Complexity of materials Control of students honesty Lack of students motivation, full employment, especially in industry

18. Courses Average 4 courses per trainee 26 trainees attended 9 courses each 45 trainees attended only one course

19. Results 1154 - total number of courses 502 University certificates with marks 489 Certificates of attendance Average evaluation 6,6 (out of 10) Marks: 10 9 8 6 and 7

20. Comments Teacher: I believe that such courses is a single option for several hundred people to acquire knowledge on GIS, SDI and geomatics within one year. Trainee: It was so difficult... The course was very interesting and useful. Such a complex assignment.... I feel completely exhausted...

21. Perspectives Materials available in Lithuanian and English Continued online training carried out by different stakeholders Further development of materials We are open for partnerships!

22. Thank you