REPORT ON THE INVENTORY ON GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) IN THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

1. OBJECTIVE

The GIS courses inventory was done with the aim of introducing a more formalised teaching structure on GIS or a MSc (one-year GIS taught course and another, application of GIS in form of a research project) within the University of Zimbabwe.

2. METHOD

The inventory was undertaken through questionnaires, which were filled by Chairman/Course co-coordinators of each department with the help of a one-page explanatory note on GIS and clarification being given by the Researcher. The following Departments were interviewed:

• Civil Engineering,
• Geoinformatics and Surveying,
• Mining Engineering,
• Veterinary Science,
• Community Medicine,
• Agricultural Economics and Extension,
• Soil Science,
• Animal Science
• Crop science,
• Computer Science,
• Physics,
• Biological Science,
• Geography and Environmental Science,
• Geology,
• Rural and Urban Planning,
• Economics,
• Sociology,
• Business Studies and,
• History (Archeology).

1. RESULTS

Graph 1- GIS/Database Results

68.4% of the interviewed departments do not offer GIS courses. These include Animal Science, Physics, Rural and Urban Planning, Community Medicine, Veterinary Science, Business Studies, Agricultural Economics and Extension, Biological Science, Sociology, Crop Science, Mining Engineering, Computer Center and, Economics. Of these departments, eight offer neither GIS nor database courses. The remaining four departments, do not offer GIS but do offer database courses such as Microsoft Access, statistical analysis and applications. These database courses are offered in Crop Science, Computer Center, Mining Engineering and Economics.

Some of the above departments that do not offer GIS, however, think there is need to introduce GIS especially at postgraduate level and these include:

• Sociology: in urban sociology, rural development and social policy;
• Biological Sciences: in their postgraduate research;
• Agricultural Economics and Extenuation: for Research purposes by both staff and students;
• Business Studies: in tourism and hospitality management and for the benefit of students doing international marketing;
• Veterinary Science: in epidemiology modeling;
• Community Medicine: in public health with emphasis in mapping of areas of rainfall, weather patterns, temperatures and population density versus malaria;
• Rural and Urban Planning: for land use planning purposes;
• Physics: for research; and
• Mining Engineering: in ore-body and mine modeling.

31.6% of the interviewed departments offer GIS as part of main courses and these include:

• Geology,
• Civil Engineering,
• Geoinformatics and Surveying,
• Geography and Environmental Science,
• Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering
• History (Archeology).

Of the above departments, two offer GIS but no database courses (i.e. Geology and Geography & Environmental Science). The remaining four offer both GIS and database courses, GIS is offered as a main course in Civil Engineering and Geoinformatics & Surveying.

There is, however, a need by all departments, which offer GIS to integrate their efforts, and have GIS taught at a higher level. Strengthening existing programs such as those offered in Geoinformatics & surveying rather than duplicating is a good approach to introducing taught courses on GIS or better still, an MSc in GIS.

1. AWARENESS OF GIS

 



GRAPH 2 - GIS AWARENESS PROFILE

 

84.2% of the interviewees were aware of GIS. The other 15.80% (i.e. Crop Science, Sociology and Economics) were not aware of GIS and think they will be in a better position to decide whether or not they need to introduce it in their departments, after GIS has been explained to them in detail e.g. Crop Science and Economics. Support teaching, however, is needed in Soil Science & agricultural Engineering, Community Medicine, Physics and Rural & urban planning. Lack of teaching facilities/staff is a major setback in introducing GIS in some departments such as Rural & Urban planning.

 

2. FACILITIES

Soil science & Agricultural Engineering: ILWIS for windows package and USAID almanac compact disc (sample provided to IES),

• Animal /science: 1 Global Positioning System (GPS) UNIT, 1 Pentium with ARC/INFO,
• Agricultural Economics and Extension: GIS software and
• Geography and Environmental Science: Specialised GIS laboratory, 3 Pentiums digitizers, plotters, arc view, arc/info and ILWIS software.

1. POTENTIAL GIS NETWORKING POINTS WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY

Most interviewees were very interested in the survey and would like to be invited in the next GIS meeting. These include:

• Mr.Manayanga, Research Assistant, History-Archeology,
• H. Munyanyiwa, senior lecturer & Chairman, Geology,
• Eng. E. Kaseke, WREM program manager, Civil Engineering,
• Ms. K. Verbeek, Lecturer Soil science and Agricultural Engineering,
• Prof. J. G. Voss, Chairman, Mining Engineering,
• Dr. A. Makarau, Coordinator, Physics,
• Dr. R. B. Matchaba, Lecturer Community Medicine,
• Dr. k. Dzama, Lecturer, Paraclinical veterinary Science,
• Dr. p. Kawasha, Chairman, Business Studies,
• Mr. G. D. Mudimu Chairman, Agricultural Economics and Extension,
• Dr. B. N. Dube, Chairman, Biological Science,
• Dr. V. N. Muzvidziwa, Chairman, Sociology and
• Dr. P. Tongoona, Chairman, Crop Science.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LIST