Ridgeland, MS -- Digital Quest, Inc. (DQI) was recently recognized in a published report for addressing the geospatial industry's need for a well-trained workforce, not only in Mississippi, but nationwide.  With this recognition, the geospatial certification STARS (Spatial Technology and Remote Sensing) is setting the standard for geospatial technology training.  The STARS certification is a product created by SPACESTARS, LLC, a partnership between DQI and the Berkley Geo-Research Group.  The STARS certification is designed to provide skill training in the new and ever more vital field of geospatial technology which is among the top three fastest growing career fields in the U.S. with a 15 percent growth in new jobs projected over the next decade.

 "The geospatial technology industry has been lacking an industry-driven certification,” stated Eddie Hanebuth of Digital Quest, Inc.  “STARS is filling this gap to answer the growing demand for a better trained, highly skilled geospatial workforce.”

 In May 2004, the independent research group Management & Training Corporation of Centerville, Utah, recommended the STARS Certification to Department of Labor for use in Job Corps in a report entitled  "Industry-Recognized Certificate Programs and Job Corps: Working Toward a Skilled and Qualified Workforce."   The report, which states that the geospatial field is one of the high growth industries that will be affected by critical shortages in trained personnel, lists only the STARS certification for a GIS/Remote Sensing Technician. 

 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a technology that integrates database operations like queries and statistical analysis with maps to solve problems and make decisions.  GIS software is a computer-based analysis and mapping tool widely used by schools, governments, and businesses. 

 STARS is a fully-developed "turn-key" certification program for high schools, colleges and universities.  Students utilize a locally-customized GIS to learn detailed information about their local community and master the use software and tools standard in the geospatial industry.  The first three semesters are formatted as a classroom-delivered program, then the students do a self-paced, campus-based GIS/RS project in the final semester.  At the end of the curriculum, an exam is administered and a portfolio submitted for certification approval.

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 Digital Quest, Inc. is a Mississippi-based development and training oriented company with a primary focus of enabling educational institutions to provide skill training in the new and ever-more vital field of Geospatial Technology.  DQI, an active member of the EIGS geospatial technology cluster, is headquartered from Ridgeland, Mississippi and operates the SPACESTARS Geospatial Training Laboratory at NASA’s Stennis Space Center.  For more information about Digital Quest, visit www.digitalquest.com or contact Eddie Hanebuth at 1-800- 877-573-6683, eddieh@digitalquest.com. 

The MTC Institute Management & Training Corporation (MTC) is a leader in the training of disadvantaged youth. MTC manages and operates 24 Job Corps Centers in 19 states for the U.S. Department of Labor, preparing disadvantaged youth for meaningful careers.  The MTC Institute, a research unit within MTC, addresses topics relevant to job training and corrections programs. The Institute is dedicated to objectively examining data, projecting trends, researching program models, tracking public policy developments, and shedding light on promising practices.  The MTC Institute report, "Industry-Recognized Certificate Programs and Job Corps: Working Toward a Skilled and Qualified Workforce," can be viewed at:   www.mtcinstitute.com/publications/Industry%20Recognized%20Certificate04.pdf.

 Contact:  Eddie Hanebuth
601-259-8266, eddieh@digitalquest.com