The Central University of Karnataka (CUK) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Survey of India (SoI) to advance geospatial education, research, and skill development. Announced on November 12, 2025, the five-year agreement focuses on collaborative training, workshops, internships, and joint research in GIS, remote sensing, and modern mapping technologies. The initiative begins with hands-on GIS and mapping workshops starting November 20, 2025, targeting CUK students and faculty.
The Partners: SoI and CUK
The Survey of India, established in 1767 and headquartered in Dehradun, is India’s national mapping authority. It produces topographic maps, geodetic data, and digital geospatial resources critical for urban planning, disaster management, and national development. SoI has embraced drones, LiDAR, and AI under Digital India initiatives.
Central University of Karnataka, located in Kalaburagi and founded in 2009, offers strong programs in geography and geoinformatics. With advanced GIS labs, CUK serves over 2,000 students and emphasizes research-aligned education.
Core Objectives of the MoU
| Focus Area | Key Activities |
|---|---|
| Training | Workshops, internships, faculty exchanges |
| Research | Joint projects on climate modeling, urban mapping |
| Technology Access | SoI datasets, software, satellite imagery |
| Certification | Joint CUK-SoI certificates for participants |
The MoU promotes skill-building in drone surveying, 3D mapping, and geospatial analytics.
Launch Programs: November 2025 Workshops
The partnership begins immediately with two intensive workshops at CUK’s Geoinformatics Lab:
- Introductory GIS & Mapping (Nov 20–25): 5-day program on QGIS, data layers, and map interpretation for 50 UG students.
- Advanced Remote Sensing & Drone Mapping (Nov 27–Dec 2): 6-day training with field surveys and LiDAR integration for 30 PG students and faculty.
Participants receive joint certification valid for academic and professional credit.
Future plans include:
- Internships at SoI’s Hyderabad/Bengaluru offices
- Joint research on Karnataka-specific geospatial challenges
- Curriculum enhancement with industry inputs
Why It Matters
This collaboration addresses India’s growing demand for geospatial professionals—15% job growth in 2024 (NASSCOM). Students gain real-world skills, industry exposure, and employability in ISRO, urban planning, and tech firms. For CUK, it strengthens research and aligns with NEP 2020. Nationally, it supports the geospatial economy, projected to reach ₹1 lakh crore by 2030.
Looking Ahead
Challenges include funding and rural student access, to be reviewed biannually. The MoU could expand to AI-driven mapping or international partnerships.
This CUK-SoI alliance sets a model for academia-government synergy in spatial sciences. As workshops launch this November, a new generation of mappers is ready to chart India’s future.
Register at cuk.ac.in. Follow updates on surveyofindia.gov.in
Central University of Karnataka Partners with Survey of India: MoU to Launch Geospatial Training in November 2025 added by admin on
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