One of the St. Louis region’s current competitive advantages in geospatial development is its ability to educate, develop and deploy a technical talent base with expertise in geospatial and related science and technology applications.
But as more and more companies in geospatial-related industries gravitate to St. Louis — the hub of innovation — the demand and requirements for a highly-skilled tech workforce continue to shift and grow.
To ensure that the region continues to keep pace with industry demand and broaden its engagement with disinvested communities and individuals significantly underrepresented in the current geospatial ecosystem, the region is mobilizing around a breadth of new and expanded programming to maintain this competitive edge.
Multiple Universities Are Expanding Their Degree and Certificate Programs
Twelve local colleges and universities offer numerous education, training and research programs in geospatial and related technology fields and are rapidly transforming their curricula to meet the needs of the fast-growing industry. Some of these institutions have collaborated to form the Taylor Geospatial Institute. All are located within a 150-mile radius of St. Louis, and the majority are located within the core metro area.
- Harris-Stowe State University
- Lindenwood University
- Maryville University
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Saint Louis University
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- St. Louis Community College
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- University of Missouri – Columbia
- University of Missouri – St. Louis
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Webster University
New Education and Training Initiatives Are Guiding Residents to Geospatial Careers
A number of non-university education and workforce training programs have sprouted up to introduce K-12 students and teachers to geospatial and related STEAM technologies and concepts, raise geospatial career awareness, connect students with regional employers and provide credentialing. At the same time, other organizations in the ecosystem are innovating and collaborating to advance workforce and talent development activities with upskilling, mentorship and apprenticeship programs aimed at helping residents transition into geospatial-related careers.