Capacity building in geospatial analysis through international cooperation in Pakistan

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-phase educational model in geoscience training implemented within an international cooperation framework. In the framework of the Glaciers & Students project (2021–2024), funded by the Italian Ministry of foreign affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Agency for development cooperation and executed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), we developed an innovative educational model for the development of geospatial skills in the context of international scientific cooperation. Specifically, the project targeted Pakistani university students with the goal of strengthening their competences in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and remote sensing through a structured, multi-phase training strategy. To overcome the limitations of traditional short-term capacity-building approaches, the program was designed around three integrated phases: (i) asynchronous e-learning, (ii) in-person training in Pakistan with Italian researchers, and (iii) a nine-month remote mentoring phase focused on applied geospatial analysis. As a final application, participants contributed to a didactic glacier inventory for Pakistan. While not validated for scientific use, this inventory served exclusively as an educational tool to apply technical skills in a realistic context, given the country’s reliance on meltwater from high-mountain glaciers. The study evaluated learning outcomes through anonymous self-assessment tests and satisfaction surveys. Supported by statistical analyses, results showed substantial improvements in participants’ technical skills, confidence, and career orientation, professional motivation, and inclusivity. The project demonstrates how international cooperation can deliver scalable, inclusive, and context-adapted geoscience education. It also provides a transferable model for climate-related capacity building, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.