Want to build practical GIS skills rather than simply watch another online seminar?
A new online workshop from the Council of European Geodetic Surveyors (CLGE) is giving beginners the opportunity to learn QGIS through live demonstrations, guided exercises and a hands-on project.
The first session, “Introduction to QGIS & Your First GIS Project,” takes place online on 25 September 2026 and is designed for people with little or no previous GIS experience.
About the Workshop
CLGE is launching a new series of practical workshops focused on open-source geospatial technologies.
Rather than concentrating only on theory, the sessions are designed around practical learning. Participants will work with tools such as QGIS and QField while learning how spatial data can be collected, managed, analysed and visualised.
The first workshop focuses specifically on getting started with QGIS and building a complete GIS project from beginning to end.
What Will You Learn?
During the four-hour workshop, participants will cover the fundamentals of GIS and QGIS, including:
- Introduction to GIS and spatial thinking
- Setting up and navigating QGIS
- Vector and raster data
- Shapefiles, GeoPackage, GeoJSON and CSV data
- Coordinate reference systems and map projections
- Importing and visualising spatial datasets
- Basic spatial analysis
- Attribute queries and filtering
- Buffer and proximity analysis
- Creating professional maps
- Map layouts, legends, labels and scale bars
- Exporting maps
- Building a complete GIS project
Participants will work with real-world datasets and follow a project-based workflow from data acquisition through to the final map.
Who Is It For?
The workshop is designed for beginners, so previous GIS experience is not required.
It could be useful for:
- Students
- Recent graduates
- Young professionals
- Environmental specialists
- Surveyors
- Urban and regional planners
- Engineers
- Researchers
- Municipal and public-sector employees
- Anyone interested in learning open-source GIS
The organisers specifically highlight applications in areas including environmental management, urban planning, transportation, infrastructure and smart cities.
What Do You Need?
Participants will need:
- A computer with QGIS installed
- A stable internet connection
- Basic computer skills
Installation instructions for QGIS will be provided beforehand.
Workshop Details
Workshop: Introduction to QGIS & Your First GIS Project
Date: 25 September 2026
Time: 09:00–13:00 CET
Format: Live online interactive workshop
Language: English
Duration: 4 hours
Maximum participants: 15
Cost: €80
Certificate: Participants who successfully complete the training receive an official CLGE Certificate of Participation.
Because places are limited to approximately 15 participants, anyone interested should check the registration information early.
Why It Is Worth Considering
QGIS is an open-source GIS platform used across a wide range of professional and academic settings.
For students and early-career professionals, learning how to work confidently with spatial data can complement backgrounds in geography, environmental science, urban planning, surveying, development and related fields.
What makes this workshop particularly useful is its practical approach. Instead of spending the entire session listening to presentations, participants will actually work through a GIS project and learn how to produce maps and perform basic spatial analysis.
The workshop is also part of a wider series. Future sessions are planned around QField and digital data collection, integrating different geospatial data sources, GIS automation and open-source WebGIS.
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How to Register
CLGE provides the official prospectus and registration form through its workshop announcement.
The official workshop page contains the Prospectus and Registration Form with the full programme details and registration information.
Conclusion
The Introduction to QGIS & Your First GIS Project workshop is a practical learning opportunity for anyone who wants to strengthen their GIS skills from beginner level.
With a four-hour live format, real-world datasets, guided exercises and a certificate of participation, it offers more hands-on learning than a typical webinar.
The €80 fee means it is not a free seminar, so applicants should consider the cost before registering. However, for students or early-career professionals who want structured introductory training in QGIS, it could be a worthwhile investment.
TheOpHub Tip
Don’t just collect certificates. Before registering, think about how you will use the skill afterwards. If you study Geography, Environmental Science, Urban Planning, Development or another spatial field, try applying what you learn to a small project of your own. A practical GIS project can become much more valuable than a certificate sitting on your CV.
If it’s rare, hidden, or slept-on, TheOpHub finds it.
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