FUNCTIONAL AREAS > Education Functional Area

The Education Area is considered the fuel that will sustain the development and operation of ECoE as a Regional Digital Innovation Hub. The specific activities of the Education area include:

• The Masters & PhDs hosting programme: Existing MSc in Geoinformatics & Geospatial Technologies and PhD Geomatics programmes or a new ‘M.Sc. programme for Earth Surveillance and Space-Based Monitoring of the Environment’ will be designed and will be offered in collaboration with the Cyprus University of Technology, which will incorporate segments of the ECoE. PhD students will have access to the ECoE facilities and infrastructure to conduct their research, while a training scheme similar to the one usually adopted in Marie-Curie Innovations Training Networks will be adopted.
• The Skills Development Centre: The objective of the Skills Development Centre is to invest in the continuous technical and scientific development of the ECoE staff and to create the next generation of researchers, scientists and engineers that will sustain the ECoE operations. The ECoE senior staff, post-doctoral researchers, invited experts and high profile researchers from the global scientific community will design and deliver accredited technical short courses, targeting both the ECoE staff and external stakeholders. The courses will cover critical scientific activities, such as the use of state-of-the-art EO equipment, theory and practice of physical processes modeling and EO data assimilation, novel remote sensing techniques, machine learning theory and practice, and big data management. Synergies with the Copernicus Academy training events will be pursued.
• The Professional Training Programme: A dedicated programme for the professional development of ECoE’s stakeholders in the region will focus on equipping and facilitating scientific and research personnel in the field of Earth Observation to make the leap and bridge the gap from science to commercialization of EO-based products and services. The programme will act as a regional multiplier in the EMMENA, educating the new generation of scientists and motivating them to create new business capitalizing on innovative research. In addition to the ECoE staff, governmental departments, private companies and end-users can benefit from the EO professional training schemes.