During GeoWeek, I had the opportunity to attend San Bernardino Valley College Architecture and GIS Industry Advisory Committee Meeting. During this meeting, we had several speakers providing information on the question from students about GIS.
- How they use geographic information system (GIS) technology in their career
- Where can a GIS certificate get me
- How to start their career in GIS
- Advice for other young professionals that have completed the program
The focus was on how colleges can prepare students and inform them about the programs offered at SBVC. There was talk about having more projects available to students to increase their chances of completing short programs and provide a substantial opportunity to transfer to a university and guide them toward a GIS profession. Other topics discussed were how to help bring in more guest speakers specializing in the GIS field to help students understand the program better and guide the students to an entry-level position in GIS. Students can find information on Esri Community's Esri Young Professionals Network.
The Esri Technical Certification program offers three foundation certifications to support college students that wish to earn a certification to build their resume as they enter the GIS workforce. The certifications are listed as the following.
Students are encouraged to update their resumes and ask questions to learn more about GIS.