WGEdu Overview Space-based observations of the Earth's atmosphere-ocean-land systems have evolved substantially since the early 1960's when the first operational weather satellite systems were launched. Over the last decade satellites have proven their observational capabilities to accurately monitor the total Earth system on a global basis. These observations are extensively used in real-time decision-making and the strategic planning and management of industria, economic, and natural resources. Many space agencies are presently managing or planning to manage for advanced Earth observation satellites. This comes at a time when an increasing number of loca,l national, regiona, and global environmental issues are emerging as international concerns. Concurrent with this evolution of Earth observational capability, geospatial industries are growing. While it is important to orient global Earth observational programmes toward answering key scientific questions it is equally important to deliver the requisite data analysis information products and applications to operational managers policy- and decision-makers and other non-traditional users of these products. However,these benefits are not realized in a large number of countries due to the lack of trained research and applications personnel. Education holds the key to future Earth observation technology development and its applications. Several countries have recognized the lack of specialists, scientists, technologists, and engineers as a major impediment in the successful implementation of applications programmes. Hence, education and human resource development is imperative to building capacities with far reaching impacts on the utilization of space assets and data. Moreover, Earth observation data and applications are an important tool for promoting general sciences and for attracting students to scientific fields of study. "Education" is a tool for wider outreach to the world community capacity building and the effective management of natural resources for sustainable development. The primary target audience consists of students at all levels teachers professionals policy- and decision-makers the media the public at large and non-traditional users of Earth observation data and information. "Training" focuses primarily on the professional and scientific community. The target audience consists of the potential professional users of Earth observation and GIS technologies. Efforts are already being made to address Earth observation education and training issues: CEOS Members currently enhance their national and international capabilities in Earth observation education through the development of educational materials and the organization of various workshops, conferences, and short-term training programmes. CEOS Associates and inter-governmental agencies have initiated active programmes in education and training in Earth observation and applications. Specific education and training programmes are available through various international organizations such as the International Institute of Aerospace Research and Earth Sciences (ITC), the European Association for the International Space Year (EURISY,)the International Space University (ISU,)the Asian Institute of Technology, as well as a number of regional institutions in different countries. The United Nations (UN) has lead the effort to establish Regional Centres for Space Science and Technology Education affiliated to the United Nations in Asia and the Pacific (India); Africa (Morocco for French language countries, Nigeria for English language countries; Latin America and Caribbean (Brazil/Mexico); Middle East (Jordan); and a Network of Space Science and Technology Education and Research Institutions for Central Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. The emphasis of these Centres is capacity building in space-related sciences and technology in developing countries. These Centres provide opportunities for developing country scholars to undertake post-graduate courses in remote sensing and GIS apart from courses in satellite communications satellite meteorology and space sciences. The Centres also conduct short duration training programmes for professionals. With Earth observation technology rapidly developing in various fields it is in the best interest of CEOS to have an effective outreach mechanism to facilitate the integration of user defined products and services into the international community. One way of achieving this is through effective coordination with these education and training institutions. Such coordination would also benefit the education and training institutions by providing them with much-needed assistance. Thus education and training programmes can be improved through CEOS involvement and in return these programmes will assist CEOS and other Earth observation data providers and users by turning out the next generation of Earth observation engineers scientists and applications specialists and increasing the usage of Earth observation data. Therefore education-related activities are important for CEOS to coordinate within the community at large. Doing so will prove fundamental in the realisation of one of CEOS's ultimate goals: maximizing the use of and benefit from Earth observation data and the various practical applications of this information. With regard to improvements in Earth observation education and training it is recognised that particular emphasis should be placed on developing countries.

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