1. National University of Lesotho Department of Geography & Environmental Science
GIS Courses within Geography Department at NUL
Presenter: Simon Takalimane
17th March 2016

2. Brief History of GIS at NUL
GIS offered within the Geo & Env. Sci Department, and this course is mainly offered to the BSc & BA (Urban & Regional Planning) students,
Under FOST
GIS courses established in 2004/05
Lab equipped with 13 computers running on a network
Uses ArcGIS version 9, (can cater for 30 licenses)
Softwares used: Mapwindow, Qgis & ILWIS

3. Programmes offering GIS
BSc
Environmental Science
Physical Geography single major
Double major with Geography:
Geo & Chem
Geo & Bio
Geo & Phy
BA (Urban & Regional Planning)

4. Current courses & number of students
Number of students fluctuates in these courses & this depends on external influences
Year II: Introduction to Cartography – 66 students
Year III: Introduction to GIS – 16 students
Year IV: Advanced GIS – Nine students

5. Current situation EO concepts are included from year 2 – 4,
Currently the department is reviewing its programmes & this gives it room to incorporate all the fundamental Remote sensing topics
Geo Dept is also Working on modalities to establish a water institute
NUL acquired a MESA Satellite Receiving Station - September 2015 (up & running)

6. Potential areas of collaboration with MESA
Mainly providing support & assisting other MESA partners in Lesotho
Teaching : incorporating MESA data fully into students practicals for drought, agriculture, floods & fires
Incorporating MESA data into other courses, meteorology & climatology, hydrology, etc
Curriculum development: responsive to national and regional needs, standardized curriculum within the region
Product validation: ground truthing
Research – undertaking research using MESA data

7. Researches work conducted
Wetland mapping & monitoring
Delineation of revised constituencies & community council boundaries
Establishment of catchment areas for health facilities in Lesotho
Vulnerability mapping

10. Thank you