A market-driven model of GIS education

Production of qualified GIS methodological expertise lags substantially behind demand. Deployment of the technology in the absence of adequate theoretical knowledge leads to problems ranging from cost overruns and project stagnation to misuse of techniques and incorrect prescriptions for decision making. University programs are losing ground to skeletal professional college and vendor training, to the detriment of GIS practice. Academics need to address the issues that fall exclusively within their intellectual jurisdiction. They must identify target markets, and offer instruction that satisfies those markets in both content and format. This paper argues for such a market-driven approach, and offers details on establishing suitable offerings.