Date:05/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/05/stories/2008080550150200.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Post-graduate diploma in geo-information science

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Centre for Geo-Information Science and Technology, University of Kerala, has announced a Post Graduate Diploma in Geo-Information Science and Technology. The inter-institutional, inter-disciplinary centre for capacity building in geospatial information infrastructure has invited applications to the first batch of the course.

The course is supported by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the ‘innovative programmes’ category. According to a pressnote, such a course is not being offered at any UGC-approved academic institution in South India. The two-semester course aims to provide conceptual knowledge in spatial and non-spatial data, methods of acquisition, storage, management, analysis, application, display and dissemination.

The curriculum has been so designed as to be in tune with the emerging trends in the field of geo-spatial information science and to answer the rising demand for skilled manpower within the country and abroad.

The centre has at its disposal state-of-the-art facilities/software to provide hands-on training for students, the pressnote said. The course comprises a minimum of three hours of classroom lectures followed by at least three hours of laboratory work daily. Those with a post graduate degree in geology (or any branch of earth science), geography, environmental science, physics, or computer science with not less than 55 per cent marks can apply.

Admission

Admission to the programme will be through an entrance examination featuring multiple choice questions designed to test a candidate’s knowledge and aptitude in earth science, computer proficiency, logic and reasoning skills, English grammar and comprehension skills. The two-hour test will be held at the Kariavattom campus of the University of Kerala on August 30. The performance of a candidate in the entrance test and his performance in the qualifying degree will be considered on a 1:1 basis for preparing the rank list.

There are 10 seats for the course. The application form can be downloaded from the web site ‘http://cgist.ac.in.’ The last date for submitting applications is August 20, the press note added.