Challenges and Prospects of Integrating GIS Education in Development Studies in a Global South Context

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are increasingly applied to support evidence-based decisions across disciplines, including the global development and humanitarian sector. However, higher education programmes in development-related fields rarely integrate GIS as a teaching and learning component. This paper describes a GIS module collaboratively developed for a Vietnamese undergraduate development studies curriculum. It explores opportunities and barriers to its implementation by examining feedback from students and academic staff. Based on the experience and findings, a set of recommendations are put forward, opening up a debate about GIS education in development studies in the Global South and how this may be facilitated.