The Department of Geography at the University of Kelaniya successfully held a stakeholder meeting on September 12, 2024, at the Research Centre for the Social Sciences (RCSS), Faculty of Social Sciences. This meeting was organized as part of the department’s ongoing efforts to revise and update the curriculum of the Diploma in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which has been offered since 2018.
The revision process is in line with the university’s policy to ensure that academic programs remain current, relevant, and aligned with both national and international developments in the field. With five successful batches having completed the diploma, the department aims to produce highly qualified scholars ready for both the commercial GIS industry and further academic research. Given the dynamic nature of geospatial technologies and their applications in human and physical geography, revising the curriculum is crucial to maintaining academic excellence.
The meeting brought together representatives from key organizations in the GIS and remote sensing industries. Esteemed organizations that contributed valuable insights and expertise included:
- Special Task Force (STF)
- GIS Solutions
- Sumathi Group
- Survey Department of Sri Lanka
- Disaster Management Center (DMC)
- National Building Research Organization (NBRO)
- Department of Irrigation
- Lean and Green Solutions (PVT) Ltd.
- Map Lanka Geospatial Technology and Solutions
- Global GIS (PVT) Ltd.
The Department of Geography expresses its gratitude to these organizations for their participation and contribution to this significant initiative. Their input will be instrumental in ensuring that the revised Diploma in GIS continues to meet the evolving needs of the geospatial industry, both locally and globally.