In September 2003, four renowned institutes of higher education in the Netherlands joined forces to offer an innovative course of study, the Master of Science program in Geographical Information Management and Applications (MSc-GIMA). The program is offered as distance learning, with four periods of classroom instruction, and is conducted in English.

The four institutions that have created the program are the Delft University of Technology, International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation in Enschede, Utrecht University, and Wageningen University and Research Center.

A week of introduction, as well as the first three days and last two days of each module—for a total of 13 weeks—is given in the form of classroom instruction. Every classroom learning period is offered in one of the four Dutch cities where the participating institutes are located. In the intermediate periods, students will work from their home country. There is a choice between a half-time program lasting four years and a full-time program that lasts two years. Furthermore, the duration of the curriculum can be shortened by means of exemptions, particularly for professionals with considerable GIS experience.

The program is well suited to working professionals, as well as for students who have just acquired their bachelor's degree in GIS. Although offered primarily through distance learning, through the use of the digital learning environment and video conferencing, there is continuous interaction between students and lecturers.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will have

• Up-to-date knowledge of geoinformation technologies (e.g., GIS, remote sensing, photogrammetry, GPS, and cartographic visualization), their scientific development, and their fields of application
• Skills in geodata handling processes, such as acquisition, structuring, storing, retrieving, processing, analyzing, modeling, and visualizing geoinformation
• Ability to gain insight into the role of geodata and geoinformation within organizations (e.g., geodata infrastructure) and outside organizations (e.g., geoinformation clearinghouses) and manage geoinformation departments, units, and projects
• Ability to recognize, describe, analyze, and synthesize geoinformation handling relevant for research, policy, and business problems and to develop and execute geoinformation-based projects and prototypes

Initial Responses

The MSc-GIMA program has been offered for nearly two years. The initial responses from students have been very encouraging. Professionals indicate that much of what they have learned can be applied directly in their work. The recent bachelor's degree recipients have noted that they've learned much from their colleagues' backgrounds and experiences, which are often quite diverse.

Information and Application

Before applying, notice carefully that the MSc-GIMA program requires classroom instruction offered in one of the four Dutch cities where the participating institutes are located. As a consequence, students must travel to the Netherlands four times in the first year. English is the primary means of communication.

For more information, visit www.msc-gima.nl.