Committee on Earth Observation Satellites Capacity Building Initiatives

Committee on Earth Observation Satellites Capacity Building Initiatives under ITEC Dr. S. K. Srivastav Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) Dehradun CEOS WGCap. D-8 Annual Meeting Agenda Item 25 Working Group on Capacity Building & Data Democracy Indian Institute of Remote Sensing Indian Space Research Organisation Dehradun, India March 06 – 08, 2019

ITEC: A brief Introduction The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) • Bilateral programme of assistance of the Government of India, focused on addressing the needs of developing countries. • 161 partner countries in Asia & the Pacific, Africa, Latin America & the Caribbeans, and East & Central Europe are offered unique training courses. • Nodal Department: Development Partnership Administration (DPA-II) division in the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. • The training programmes are fully sponsored by the Government of India. • IIRS empaneled under ITEC as one of the centres of excellence in 2001. o Aim: Share Indian (ISRO) development experience in EO & Geospatial technologies and Applications.

Training Courses Offered by IIRS • Regular Courses: Two Courses annually (each of 8 Weeks duration) o Remote Sensing with emphasis on Digital Image Process. (Jan-Feb) o Short course on Geoinformatics (Sep-Nov) • Special Courses • Short course (2017: 60 Tajikistan nationals) • P. G. Diploma (2009: 11 Algerians ) Target Group • Middle level resource managers and professionals from Federal and State Govt. Departments, Universities and Educational Institutions, NGOs. • Educational Background: Undergraduate / Post Graduate degree • Age Group: 25 -45 years

Course Structure & Learning Outcome Short Course on Remote Sensing (RS) with special emphasis on Digital Image Processing (DIP) • Module-1: Basics of Remote sensing • Module-2: Digital Image Analysis • Module-3: Thematic Applications & Project Short Course on Geoinformatics • Module-1: GI Science • Module-2: Earth Observation (EO) • Module-3: Advanced GIS and Project Learning Outcome • To gain adequate theoretical and practical knowledge on fundamentals and advanced principles of RS and processing of RS data using DIP techniques for natural resource management and decision making. Learning Outcome • To develop an understanding of appropriate tools & techniques for the acquisition, processing, transformation, analysis, modeling, storage and presentation of spatial data and using geo-information in identifying and responding to development problems.

Implementing Partners & Process • Ministry of External Affairs – Departmental Partnership Administration (DPA-II) Division (Nodal Department) • Indian Embassy / High Commission in partner countries • IIRS (Implementing Department) • Submission of filled-in Application at Indian Missions/Embassy in applicants’ country by the parent organization; Application available at www. itecgoi. in • Application forwarded by Indian Mission/Embassy to MEA & then to IIRS • Screening of Applications and communication to MEA • Selection of Candidates by MEA and communication to Embassy • Embassy grants VISA and Air Ticket • Candidates arrives at IIRS and attends the course; receives fellowship from IIRS

Beneficiaries: 677 (81 Countries) • • Short Course on Remote Sensing : 381 Short Course on Geoinformatics: 225 P. G. Diploma (2009): 11 Special Short Course (2017) : 60

Evaluation Short Feedback (4 -point scale) • Structure & organization of the course? • Usefulness of training in present job? • Relevance of course material? • Hospitality? • Overall programme objective? Detailed feedback survey in 4 categories (recently initiated, 2015 onwards): • Education/ Academic: 19 Questions • Benefit of the courses: 8 Questions • Amenities / Infrastructure: 8 Questions • General: 8 Questions Average Feedback: 9 Courses (2015 -2019)Open Ended • Comments/ Observation:

Best Practices & Way Forward Best Practices: • Training programss broadly follow the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) model. § Inclusions of on demand lectures/ Hands-on sessions based on periodic feedback during the course § Project work on the study area & data from candidates’ home country referred Way Forward: • Theme-based Short Courses based on demand (e. g. Spl. Courses for Tajikistan) through ITEC/MEA, Govt. of India • Long-term Courses (Postgraduate Diploma/ Masters prog. ) • Online Courses/ Webinars