UNIGIS in North America - Vancouver Island University
Written by Glenn Letham (GISuser editor)
07 March 2006
A reminder... the UNIGIS program - a worldwide network of educational institutions which offers distance learning courses in GIS - is now being delivered at Vancouver Island University (Vancouver Island, BC). This is a reputable, on-line, non-credit Post Graduate Certificate in Theoretical and Applied GIS and provides comprehensive education and training in GIS. This program utilizes popular GIS software, with emphasis on spatial analysis, real-world applications and cartography. Malaspina is one of 2 Institutions in North America offering the UNIGIS program.
So why the reminder... well, many of you may associate the delivery of UNIGIS in Canada with Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, BC), however, SFU is no longer associated with UNIGIS and is not delivering the program. Somewhat troubling (and confusing to yours truly) is the fact that in an affort to distance themselves from the program, SFU has simply removed all material from their website and asks site visitors to jump to the main UNIGIS website.
I think a more logical move would have been to inform visitors that the UNIGIS program is now being delivered by Malaspina (physically located only 50 miles away) and perhaps refer site visitors to their website (http://www.mala.ca/ccs/certificates/unigis.htm) - after all, Malaspina is now the ONLY institution in Canada offering the program! Obvisouly, this is a sign that competition is tough between Institutions as SFU appears to have no intention to help Malaspina get the word out that they are delivering the UNIGIS program. (A source tells me that the SFU Admin and the Dept of Geography/GIS Dept. have been at odds over the entire fiasco and admin is firm on not sending referals to Malaspina!)
A bit about the skills UNIGIS students at Malaspina will acquire:
Translating management and scientific problems into GIS.
Designing and implementing appropriate methods of data capture.
Designing spatial analysis procedures within GIS.
Using techniques of spatial statistics within GIS.
Designing and using databases within GIS.
Designing map output in a variety of media.
Implementing quality control procedures.
Managing a GIS project and implementing GIS within an organization.
Studying the social implications of GIS.
Graduates of te program will be able to apply their skills to the following disciplines:
Business - marketing, real estate, property development.
Education - primary, middle, secondary, colleges, universities, research institutes, libraries.
Engineering - surveying, civil.
Government - regional planning, public administration, health, education, heritage.
Municipal planning - urban growth.
Natural resource management / environmental management - air, land, and water including forestry, agriculture, fisheries, mining.
Research - physical and biological, social sciences, humanities.
Security - public safety, law enforcement, immigration, national security, defense.
Transportation - planning, systems management.
Utilities - oil and gas pipelines, electrical transmission, telephony.
Adminission in the program requires a diploma or degree from a recognized institution. The program is NOT limited to Canadians and International students are encouraged to apply.
For International Students tuition fees for the 2 year program are $13,125 CDN. For more information:
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NOTE: Malaspina University also now offers an Advanced Diploma in GIS Applications- During this intensive, eight-month program, delivered over two terms, students will learn to use GIS as a spatial informational and problem-solving tool. Content is equally divided between developing hands-on competency in GIS technology and using GIS as a tool in resolving geographic problems through assignments and project work. (ESRI’s ArcGIS is the main soft ware pack age used in the de livery of this program)
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Community 
A reminder... the UNIGIS program - a worldwide network of educational institutions which offers distance learning courses in GIS - is now being delivered at Vancouver Island University (Vancouver Island, BC). This is a reputable, on-line, non-credit Post Graduate Certificate in Theoretical and Applied GIS and provides comprehensive education and training in GIS. This program utilizes popular GIS software, with emphasis on spatial analysis, real-world applications and cartography. Malaspina is one of 2 Institutions in North America offering the UNIGIS program.
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