SPIDER: open SPatial data Infrastructure eDucation nEtwoRk Erasmus Project

Project Title

SPIDER: open SPatial data Infrastructure eDucation nEtwoRk

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Open and distance learning; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

In the past 20 years, European public authorities have invested considerable resources in the development of spatial data infrastructures (SDIs). With the European INSPIRE Directive as an important driver, national SDIs were developed throughout Europe to facilitate and coordinate the exchange and sharing of geographic data. These SDIs initially focused on data sharing among public authorities. In the next stage, a more user oriented approach evolved, also including users outside the public sector. In recent years, several countries and public administrations in Europe started with the implementation of open data policy, with the aim of making their government data ‘open’. In addition, some started to make a shift towards the establishment of an ‘open’ SDI, in which also non-government data and actors are considered as key to the performance of the infrastructure.
Currently, SDI education around the globe is characterized by single disciplinary or siloed views missing out on opportunities of a holistic, multidisciplinary view on SDI. In addition, the recent Open SDI trend has not been implemented in any SDI curriculum yet. Moreover, teaching methods are still limited to traditional teaching in the classroom. As a consequence, there is barely an international exchange of educational material and approaches on open SDI among universities. An overview and detailed analysis of existing SDI education are unavailable and an international platform facilitating the SDI education is lacking.

The overarching objective of the project is to promote and strengthen active learning and teaching towards Open SDI. Subobjectives are:
1. To explore, develop and implement the concept of Open SDI as a new paradigm to SDI education
2. To develop and promote active and multidisciplinary learning and teaching on Open SDI
3. To develop a general toolkit for implementing Open SDI in existing curricula in study programs of different disciplines
4. To drive the uptake of Open SDI teaching and learning resources by teachers and students via open online platforms

Project participants/ description of activities
The project addresses the following target groups and their needs:
– Teachers and trainers requiring new teaching and learning approaches and methods, allowing them to teach and train students with state of the art content and means.
– Students (BSc, MSc and PhD level) requiring innovative, pro-active teaching and learning approaches to be applied to societal challenges and to allow a kick-start of their professional career.
– SDI practitioners and decision makers, requiring insight into new approaches to SDI development and implementation, and employees with the rights skills to adopt these new approaches.

The activities will yield 6 project meetings, 8 intellectual outputs, 5 multiplier events and 3 learning/teaching/training actions. Through the project events and activities we have more than 250 participants (ca. 100 teachers in SDI, 50 students and 100 SDI practitioners and decision makers).

SPIDER Methodology
SPIDER will employ a mixed methodology. Through desk research, and surveys a knowledge base will be drafted. These results are discussed and applied in the Learning and Teaching and Training events, which are focused on academic staff and students. The results are then communicated and discussed with the broader SDI community in the Multiplier Events and presented in events (conferences) that are organised by the associated partners.

The envisaged SPIDER’s results and impact are:
1. A better understanding of existing practices, policies and systems in education, and training across countries in Europe and beyond
2. A new holistic perspective on Open SDI
3. The central online SPIDER platform facilitating Open SDI education in Europe and beyond
4. A new and increased inter-regional and transnational cooperation of five EU universities in the field of Open SDI education
5. Inclusion of new, innovative concepts and topics related to Open SDI in SDI education (at participating organizations and other HEIs in Europe)
6. An increased digital competence of academic staff in SDI education in Europe
7. Improved quality of education and training in Open SDI in Europe
8. An education aligned with the future needs of the labour market

Potential longer term benefits
1. Increased level of active teaching on SDI beyond the participating organizations and other HEIs in Europe
2. Development of higher-order skills by students, through the use of active teaching and learning practices
3. Development of knowledge, skills and competencies on new, innovative topics and concepts related to Open SDI by students
4. Delivery of better prepared students to the SDI job market
5. Increased attention to and awareness on Open SDIs among teachers, researchers, practitioners and decision makers

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 442391 Eur

Project Coordinator

HOCHSCHULE BOCHUM & Country: DE

Project Partners

• SVEUCILISTE U ZAGREBU – GEODETSKI FAKULTET
• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT
• KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
• LUNDS UNIVERSITET