GIS is a computer system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present a variety of spatial and Geographical Data. Applications of GIS are of widespread and concern multidisciplinary sectors including governance, Urban Planning, Mapping, Routing/Tracking, Climate Change, Public Health, Transportation, Agriculture, Infrastructure ETC… GIS provides one single platform for all documents, satellite images, maps, spatial vector data and tabular datasets related to any given study area. GIS is considered a state of the art tool that enables practitioners, researchers and policy makers to take spatially reliable decisions. Within this context and from IEREK’s concern regards capacity building programs for students, IEREK is suggesting the following training courses and certificates in the field of GIS.

GIS RESEARCHER Certificate Level
Duration: 72 Hours

Prerequisite: General knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office
Contents: Based on international standards, this course qualifies students as GIS Researchers. The certificate comprises of two sub modules; Mapping and Cartography and Basic Vector Analysis and Layout. By achieving this certificate, from a theoretical standpoint, students will grasp the concepts and enrich their knowledge on the different applications of GIS in multidisciplinary fields and how GIS is used to support decision-making. By the end of this course, technically using AutoCAD and ArcGIS, students will be able to create and edit spatial data along with its attributes, present their maps professionally, and make different kind of basic vector based analysis and queries needed for decision-making.

GIS SPECIALIST Certificate Level
Duration: 72 Hours

Prerequisite: The GIS Researcher Certificate
Contents: Based on international standards, this course qualifies students as GIS Specialists. The certificate comprises of two sub modules entitled Geodatabase Design and Geodatabase Applications. By achieving this certificate, students will get acquainted with main concepts and definitions of geodatabases with empathizing on how to build a geodatabase using personal or file geodatabases, feature classes, domains and subtypes along with geographic relationships and topographies. Moreover, through hands-on experience, students will learn how to do routing and navigation through Network Analyst. Validating infrastructure systems will also be taught through Geometric Networks. By the end of this course, after the hands on experience, students will be able to be initiate, handle and be completely in charge of GIS real life projects.

GIS ANALYST Certificate Level
Duration: 72 Hours

Prerequisite: The GIS Specialist Certificate
Contents: Based on international standards, this course qualifies students as GIS Analysts. Comprised of two sub modules entitled Remote Sensing and Raster Analysis and Advanced Vector and Raster Analysis. By achieving this certificate, students will learn the fundamentals of remote sensing and will be able to model and solve spatial problems through conducting supervised and unsupervised classifications and through learning how to create digital elevation models and consequently conducting different basic and advanced surface raster analyses in addition to advanced vector analysis. Furthermore, students will also learn how to manage spatial data in 3D formats to create 3D models and animations to effectively visualize and present their work.

GIS DEVELOPER Certificate Level
Duration: To be determined

Prerequisite: The GIS Analyst Certificate
Contents: Based on international standards, this course qualifies students as GIS Developers. By the end of this course, students will be able to develop Desktop and Web applications related to GIS. The Course might also extend to accommodate IOS and Android GIS applications on handheld devices. The notion of this certificate arose due to the increasing market demand on programing and coding to deliver IT solutions that enable proper management of businesses.

Students who finished certain GIS levels at the AAST (not before July 2016)
and need to register with IEREK to take following levels

The table below should provide interested participants with information regarding the already undertaken and completed levels presented in the AAST GIS Courses column and those to follow and also presented in the right column titled IEREK GIS Courses.

The certifications are accredited by UNICAF
• You can test your GIS capabilities online by taking the Online GIS Test
• You can also be certified in GIS by International Entities and Universities.

Costs of the online exams:
• GIS Researcher Certificate: 250 USD
• GIS Specialist Certificate: 300 USD
• GIS Analyst Certificate: 350 USD
• GIS Developer Certificate: 500 USD

Students completing the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) course will receive certification from the UNICAF organization.

About UNICAF

UNICAF is one of the most generous scholarship Programmes currently available. UNICAF with its associated universities offers a number of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the areas of business, education, and psychology. The UNICAF program is dedicated to making higher education accessible to African professionals so as to enable them to experience high-level education taught by experts. UNICAF collaborates with reputable universities around the world, and through its scholarship program, offers short certified courses through its professional training division.

Additionally, UNICAF ensures access to higher education through online learning and not setting any limits that are solely geographical or financial. With expertise in quality of delivering and provisioning an extraordinary online student experience, great success has been reached.

Students who want a certificate from UNICAF will be required to pay an extra 150 EGP

1. Level A (Mapping & Cartography)

   - Intro to GIS.
   - GIS Fundamentals & Applications.
   - Geo-Referencing.
   - Raster to Vector Conversion.
   - Database and Attributes

2. Level B (Basic Vector Analysis and Layout)

   - Database and Attributes.
   - Data frame Properties.
   - Shapefile Properties
   - Layouts.
   - Select by location.
   - Geoprocessing.
   - Exercises + Homework + Exam.

3. Level C (Geodatabase Design)

   - How to Build a Geo-Database.
   - Topography.
   - Relationships.
   - Geometric Network.
   - Network Analyst.
   - Project + Exam.

4. Level D (Geodatabase Applications)

   - Building a GIS for a small City.
   - Networks Applications.

5. Level E (Remote Sensing & Raster Analysis)

   - Intro to RS.
   - Image Classification.
   - Raster Analysis.
   - 3D Representation.
   - Project + Exam.

6. Level F (Advanced Vector and Raster Analysis)

   - Modeling.
   - Site Selection Application
   - Change Detection Application.
   - Time Series Analysis.
   - Project + Exam.