Ranchi-based Xavier Institute of Social Services (XISS) recently welcomed the 11th batch of students for its Geoinformatics (GIS) training programme – a six-month programme with 30 seats for undergraduate, postgraduate and ITI students.
Classes for this programme commenced on March 29 following the induction. During the course of the programme, the trainees will be taught the practical application and concept of GIS and remote sensing. They will learn about the application of the technology in varied fields like urban planning, weather forecasting, land information management system and watershed management projects.
Students will be taught software such as Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographic Information System (ArcGIS), Earth Resource Development Assessment System (ERDAS), Interactive Geographic Information System (i-GIS), Quantum Geographic Information System (Q-GIS) and more.
They will also learn the use of survey equipment such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and Electronic Total Station (ETS).
At the induction, XISS director Joseph Marianus Kujur said, “We need to unlearn whatever biases we have learnt in order to be open to new learnings and it is my appeal to each one of you to be attentive during this entire programme. This programme, backed by scientific and technological progress, is in huge demand these days and each one of you should utilise this opportunity.”
“I take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Dash for successfully spearheading this programme for the past seven years and for the 100% placements it has delivered in the last batch. I wish all the new students to be successful in their careers ahead,” he added.
Prakash Chandra Dash, assistant professor and coordinator of the GIS training programme, said that Geoinformatics as a branch of studies, owing to its wider applications in various areas, is rapidly gaining popularity and its acceptance by both government and private agencies is attracting students.
“The placement of the last three batches in this training programme was 70-95%. Students have secured jobs in Smart City Project, MGNREGA, Forest Department, Revenue Department, PMGSY, Road Development Dept, JSAC, Agriculture Department, Mining, Urban Development, Drinking Water Department, Survey of India as well as in the Private Sector and other non-governmental organisations,” he said
Amar E Tigga, dean of academics, XISS, said, “The scope of this field is enormous and now it is spreading across several courses as well. Each one of you should focus on becoming a GIS solution provider, using the skills and learnings taught during the programme.”