A CENTRE F O R SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IN ASIA-PACIFIC - PLANS AHEAD
- Paper ID
IAF-95-P.2.05
- author
- company
Indian Space Research Organisation
- country
India
- year
1995
- abstract
Towards creation of a greater awareness of the environment and for a better understanding of the needs of developing nations, the United Nations has established, through its Space Applications Programme (Office for Outer Space Affairs), Regional Centres for Space Science and Technology Education (CSSTE) in existing educational/ research institutions in the developing countries. For the Asia and the Pacific region, the SSTE Centre (SSTE-AP) is located in India. The Centre envisages to contribute towards the above by providing a framework for the nations of the region to develop, through in- depth education, indigenous capabilities for research and applications in Remote Sensing technology, Satellite Communications, Satellite Meteorology, Geographic Information System (GIS) and data management as part of the essential tools for environmental assessment and natural resources management - essential steps for ensuring sustainable development. A comprehensive Curriculum design for the various courses to be conducted by the Centres has been worked out. A three-tiered education programme has been chalked out around the curriculum. The design of the Education is oriented towards teaching and research institutions that are capable of high attainments in the development and transmission of knowledge in the developing countries. Given the global realities and concerns of our time, the initial emphasis of the Centre shall be to concentrate on in-depth education, research and applications programmes, linkages to the global data centres, pilot projects, continuing education and awareness and appraisal programmes. The paper discusses the details of the Centre and its plans for organisation. The design of the Curriculum and the tutorials planned and how it was evolved keeping in mind the end- goals of the Centre have been highlighted. The specific aspects related to education by the Centre are also discussed. What the Centre proposes to achieve as part of imparting education is also covered.