ISPRS-Annals ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences ISPRS-Annals ISPRS Ann. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci. 2194-9050 Copernicus Publications Göttingen, Germany 10.5194/isprs-annals-XI-5-2026-17-2026 ISPRS SC Summer School: A Global Initiative on Capacity Building and Education Outreach in the Field of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and GIS Thapa Laxmi 1 Pucino Nicolas https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6260-6647 2 Lagahit Miguel Luis Rivera 3 Okolie Chukwuma John 4 Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham, UK Climate Friendly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Dynamic Map Platform Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan African Centre for Cities, School of Architecture Planning and Geomatics, University of Cape Town, South Africa 10 07 2026 XI-5-2026 17 23 Copyright: © 2026 Laxmi Thapa et al. 2026 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This article is available from https://isprs-annals.copernicus.org/articles/XI-5-2026/17/2026/isprs-annals-XI-5-2026-17-2026.html The full text article is available as a PDF file from https://isprs-annals.copernicus.org/articles/XI-5-2026/17/2026/isprs-annals-XI-5-2026-17-2026.pdf

The ISPRS Student Consortium (ISPRS SC) Summer Schools are one of the fundamental initiatives that ISPRS SC jointly organises with interested institutions to advance education outreach and capacity building in photogrammetry, remote sensing, and geospatial information sciences. Since their start in 2004, these programs have provided students and young researchers with immersive learning opportunities, combining technical lectures, hands-on sessions, and cultural experiences. Grounded in Experiential Learning Theory, the Summer Schools emphasise real-world application, reflective observation, and collaboration. This paper explores their evolution, global outreach, and educational impacts. Drawing on ISPRS SC Summer Schools organised till 2024, the analysis highlights their integration of theory and practice, networking benefits, and transformative cultural exchange. Challenges such as financial barriers and technological gaps are discussed together with recommendations for sustaining and enhancing these initiatives. This study underscores the critical role of ISPRS SC Summer Schools in fostering a global community of geospatial practitioners to address real-world challenges.