Geoinformatics-2013 GEM Students starting at KSUCTA

New GEM-2013 Students, enrolled in the "Geoinformatics" Master  Programme of KSUCTA, had their first online meeting with Prof. Dr. Josef Strobl, GEM Project Coordinator, on November 20. All 10 new students introduced themselves and shared ideas and motivation why they have selected to study Geoinformatics, and  in which research topics they are interested. They come from KSUCTA, other universities and research institutions for learning advanced GIS and RS technologies as well as for improving their professional and scientific skills.

Prof. Strobl has welcomed them all and expressed his best wishes for successful study in the GEM MSc Programme. Also he has mentioned the importance of personal motivation and hard work of students for the successful completion of Master Programme.

Tempus Spatial Analysis Workshop for Uzbek Universities

Within the Tempus GE-UZ project, teachers from four Uzbek universities are being trained in spatial analysis methods and techniques during a four-week workshop at the University of Salzburg, Department of Geoinformatics, Austria.

Today, the first week of training ended with a visit to the library of the Natural Sciences Faculty and an excursion to the “Vermessungsamt Salzburg” (BEV) = Federal Office of Surveying of Austria. Exchange students from Al-Faraby Kazakh National University joined the excursion.

gSmart Promotion in Uzbekistan

On November 12, the Erasmus Mundus gSmart scholarship project joint-coordinator, Aizhan Assylbekova from Al-Faraby Kazakh National University, presented scholarship possibilities to an interested audience at the National University of Uzbekistan in Tashkent (photo) as well as to teaching staff & students from different Uzbek universites at the "European Edu Faire" hosted at the University of Architecture & Construction.

European 'geospatial' scholarship info for KazNU students

On Nov 2nd, 78 students from a variety of departments attended a scholarship programme info afternoon offered at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences. Students with a record of excellence, outstanding language skills and a dedication to developing the foundations for an international career are invited to consider applying for short term, semester or full programme scholarships within the "gSmart" Erasmus Mundus initiative.

Successful applicants will attend one of six European partner universities in Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands Romania or Spain. A majority of scholarship recipients will study on MSc or PhD level, with Bachelor studies, Postdoc and Admin/Staff awards also available. The next call for applications will open on Dec 15, and a strong field of applicants is expected from KazNU.

Completing 'gSmart' Erasmus Mundus kickoff @KazNU

An intensive 2-day working meeting brought together representatives from 13 Central Asian and 6 European Universities cooperating in the implementation of this scholarship program for students and faculty from the geospatial disciplines. Led by Dr Aizhan Assylbekova as the joint coordinator in this Erasmus Mundus project, participants were developing initiatives and activities directed towards selecting the best and brightest of students for an opportunity to study at European partner universities.

Ms Giordana Bruno joined from Brussels representing the Erasmus Mundus Executive Agency, and Mr René Mally participated on behalf of the European Union Delegation to Kazakhstan. After the Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Prof Vitali Salnikov had welcomed all delegates, they dedicated themselves to planning and taking all steps towards successful implementation of the programme with sustained outcomes and measurable impacts across Central Asia.

Over the coming years more than 100 top students from Central Asia will complement or conduct their studies in Geoinformatics and related disciplines at EU universities, making an important contribution to the development of this core discipline as well as numerous application domains throughout their home countries.