Train-the-Trainer Workshop Held within the GeoConnect Project

On March 10, 2026, a Train-the-Trainer workshop was held at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the University of Sarajevo as part of the GeoConnect project. The workshop was organized as one of the activities aimed at strengthening institutional capacities in the field of geospatial data management and the development of Spatial Data Infrastructure in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The workshop represents an important step in developing sustainable, locally driven capacities for managing geospatial data and implementing the concept of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unlike traditional professional training courses, the objective of this event was not to validate or verify a predefined curriculum, but rather to strengthen the pedagogical, conceptual, and organizational capacities of the participants, while jointly initiating the process of developing a future curriculum in the field of spatial data infrastructure.

The significance of the workshop is further reflected in the fact that the University of Sarajevo and the University of Mostar have been recognized as key actors and co-owners of the future development of the NSDI curriculum in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. International partners, primarily ITC University of Twente and Kadaster International, play an advisory role in this process and provide methodological support, while sharing international experiences and good practices, with a clear focus on locally driven development of content and future directions.

The workshop program was designed as a one-day intensive training combining introductory lectures, discussions, practical examples, and group work. The thematic focus was on understanding the role of NSDI and geospatial data in transparent governance, the application of INSPIRE principles and standards, methods for teaching adult learners, as well as joint reflection on future teaching content and possible models for its implementation in both academic and professional environments.

Through collaborative curriculum design sessions, participants began drafting the initial components of the future curriculum, including the identification of target groups, key learning outcomes, potential modules, and indicative content. In this way, the workshop did not represent a final product, but rather the beginning of a broader and gradual process of developing educational and professional programs in the field of spatial data infrastructure tailored to the needs of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The workshop further confirmed the importance of cooperation between the academic community, responsible institutions, and international partners in strengthening knowledge and competencies in the field of geospatial information. The results of these activities are expected to serve as a basis for further curriculum development, the preparation of supporting teaching materials, and the long-term institutional strengthening of the geospatial data and spatial data infrastructure domain in Bosnia and Herzegovina.