The National University of Rwanda (NUR) in partnership with the Centre for Geographic Information Science (CGIS), yesterday launched a Post-Graduate Diploma programme in GIS which will run as an evening programme in Kigali. The programme is specifically designed to benefit the young and mid career professionals.

During the launch of the programme which took place at NUR’s School of Public Health in Kicukiro, the vice Rector for Academics, Prof. Martin O’Hara, stressed that the CGIS-NUR programme serves as a national and regional outreach research centre of excellence in the fields of Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing to address the issue of rural transformation and poverty reduction.

O’Hara added that through partnerships with experienced international companies and institutions in the field of GIS like the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, the University has been able to introduce subjects of GIS and remote sensing available in under-graduate and graduate programmes.

"The Post Graduate Diploma in GIS which is officially launched today as an evening programme in Kigali was designed for young and mid career professionals who perform or wish to perform tasks which need spatial information for identifying and responding to problems and supporting planning at the local, regional and international level,” said O’Hara.

The programme is expected to produce candidates qualified to independently plan, develop and execute GIS and to advise public as well as private institutions and individuals in planning and management for the sustainable development both in the country and across the region.

The first intake which kicked off for the academic year 2009 will have 33 students.

The programme consists of 16 courses featuring a total of 164 credits, and it is offered in two options which are post graduate diploma of 120 credits equivalent to 30 weeks and a certificate programme of 60 credits equivalent to 15 weeks of study.

Speaking to The New Times, Dr Rose Mukankomeje, the Director General of Rwanda Environment Authority (REMA) said that the programme had come at the right time and she called upon people to enrol because it will help in provide remedies for land disputes and enhance environmental protection.

NUR plans to introduce two more Masters programmes in the field of Geosciences which are expected to start early next year.

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