Professional Development:
a missing brick in the wall?
David J. Unwin
Birkbeck College, University of London, UK
There has been considerable debate amongst GIS educators about curriculums
for schools and colleges. Typically, these efforts have been content and
instructor driven, specifying what should be taught under the heading of
GIS, and have been intended for consumption before students enter the world
of work. However, many GIS practitioners have engaged with geographic
information from existing jobs in IT or a related field. The need here is
for professional development, with or without some form of certification.
Over the past 18 months the (UK) Association for Geographic Information
(AGI) has been developing guidelines for professional development within
the geographic information industry. The model adopted is derived from a
very mature and successful scheme operated by the British Computer Society
which is called the 'Industry Structure Model' and takes a matrix approach.
Columns of the AGI matrix represent roles within the industry such as 'data
base manager', 'GIS analyst' and so on. Rows represent levels of attainment
from the most junior up to board room level. Within each cell of this
matrix there is a complete description of the competencies needed to
operate at that level, the qualifications needed to enter and any specific
training needs.
It is anticipated that the model will be used by individuals to plan career
moves and negotiate training, by organisations wishing to specify workforce
needs and by other institutions wishing to add a geographic information
component to existing professional development schemes.
Outline of talk as presented September 7, 1996
Summary of talk
- a need and a demand
- models and cognate schemes
- defining the AGI matrix scheme
- the matrix in summary
- futures
A need : GIS and GIS educators
- content driven
- learning and doing GIS are different things
- the 'G' word and the location of GIS education
A need : Professional Development in the GI industry
- professional behaviour and ethics
- updating skills and knowledge
- no recognised professional qualification in GIS as such
A need : industrial demands
Models & cognate schemes
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
- Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
- British Computer Society (BCS)
The British Computer Society Industry Structure Model, Version 2
- Unskilled entry
- Standard entry
- Initially trained practitioner
- Trained practitioner
- Fully skilled practitioner
- Experienced practitioner/Supervisor
defining the AGI matrix scheme : levels & streams
- skilled entry
- initially trained practitioner
- fully skilled specialist
- team leader/senior specialist
- GIS manager / consultant
defining the AGI Matrix scheme: competency `streams'
- DA Data Acquisition
- DM Data Management
- GA Geographical Analysis
- DV Data Visualisation
- DB Design and Build
- HI Human Issues
defining the AGI matrix scheme
- is there a role for an `educator' stream?
- Workshops thought not, you may think otherwise!
The complete AGI matrix
- a typical cell entry contains:
- cell location & code
- academic background
- experience & skill at entry
- tasks and attributes
- required training and development
- additional comment
Cell Entry for HI, Level 3
- RECOMMENDED ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
- Preferably educated to degree level in a relevant subject. As an alternative, GCSE A level with previous technical experience in IS at BCS level 2, or conversion from within the AGI model with at least five years experience at AGI Level 2.
-
EXPERIENCE AND LEVEL OF SKILL AT ENTRY
- Either at least five years satisfactory performance at previous level, OR a minimum of 10 years with at least 5 years experience at AGI level 2.
-
Must have demonstrated a good working knowledge of the employing
organisation's policy framework, management structures and
reporting procedures
-
Must possess an up-to-date knowledge of hardware and software in general
and be familiar with all aspects of the operationaland development environment with employing organisations.
Cell entry for HI, level 3 (b)
- TASKS/ATTRIBUTES
- Be able to carry out gross project estimation, with respect to the
geographical scope of projects.
- Be able to carry out gross cost/benefit analysis with respect to the
geographical scope of projects.
- Be able to carry out software evaluation for GIS based on provided
requirements.
- Be able to carry out evaluation of integration of GIS within the existing
IT environment.
- A simple understanding of the role of GIS and its implications for specific enterprise and organisation.
- A simple assessment of confidentiality, copyright, etc... in relation to
spatial data.
- A simple assessment of the value of spatial data and costs.
- A thorough understanding of and full compliance with the AGI code of practice.
-
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED
-
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Futures
-
as a possible direct input to ISM3 of BCS, to enable the definition of e
geographical information sub-stream within that scheme
-
as an input into any RICS work on the same theme.
- as a source of reference for AGI members which might be used in several ways, for example to identify training needs, in curriculum design, and as a personal development guide.
Prof. David Unwin
Department of Geography
Birkbeck College
7-15 Gresse Street
London, UK
W1P 1PA
Tel: 0171-631 6485
Fax: 0171-631 6498
Email: d.unwin@geog.bbk.ac.uk