Higher Education Summit Recap
On Thursday, August 14th, 2025, the Indiana Geographic Information Office (IGIO) hosted a Higher Education Summit, bringing together representatives from Indiana universities, government, and industry to discuss the state of GIS-focused programs and the needs of employers. The event fostered collaboration between universities and employers to strengthen GIS education and workforce readiness across Indiana. Many topics were discussed, and we gathered key insights into how our state can assist and prepare the next generation of GIS professionals for success.
During the summit, participants explored what they saw as strengths, weaknesses, limitations, and needs for GIS education and professional skills. Below is a summary of these key findings.
In addition, the full report can be accessed here: Higher Education Summit 2025.
Academic Insights
- Strengths: Academic programs are praised for their strong faculty, interdisciplinary nature, and collaborative spirit. High enrollment in certificate programs and requirements for immersive projects and internships are seen as major positives.
- Weaknesses/Limitations: A major weakness is the lack of IT and computer science skills among many students, particularly in databases and programming. There's limited access to sufficient computing resources, and GIS programs often lack visibility or a "core identity" within their universities, leading to a feeling of being a support tool rather than a leading discipline.
- Needs: There is a strong need for better real-world experience for students through internships that have tangible projects and are advertised earlier in the year. The programs need more funding, especially GIS-focused grants. Institutions also need to actively promote their GIS programs and build a clearer identity for GIS as a standalone field, not just a tool.
Government Insights
- Strengths: Strong points included great support for GIS programs, collaborative relationships, and a solid foundation of data that allows for effective project oversight and creation.
- Weaknesses/Limitations: Key issues include a lack of critical thinking and specific technical skills like SQL, as well as a reliance on third-party vendors for data hosting.
- Needs: The government sector needs employees with a better understanding of how GIS facilitates workflows and better alignment with industry standards. There is a desire for more training and funding to help with these initiatives.
Industry Insights
- Strengths: Recent graduates are seen as highly valuable for their ability to quickly learn new tools and for their strong communication skills. The general GIS knowledge and software development skills of new hires are also highlighted as strengths.
- Weaknesses/Limitations: A significant gap exists in computer science education among students, particularly in IT, programming, and database knowledge. Companies face challenges with geographic isolation from GIS programs and a lack of specific GIS tech skills. Soft skills, such as written communication, social skills, and work socialization are also noted as areas needing improvement.
- Needs: The industry needs professionals with a deep understanding of Esri software and specific GIS skills such as parcel fabric and utility networks. There is a need for more IT professionals to be steered toward GIS, and a call for certification programs, such as one for entry-level lidar.
Overall, the summit was highly informative and sparked meaningful dialogue across sectors within Indiana. We’re excited about the potential to continue this conversation in the near future, as we work together to maintain and strengthen Indiana’s vibrant GIS community.