Now in its third cohort, GeoTE Tanzania continues to scale its impact by integrating OpenStreetMap (OSM) into academic curricula through an immersive five-week Field Practical Training (FPT) program. These sessions, co-designed with educational partners, YouthMappers chapters, and stakeholders such as TomTom and OMDTZ, bring together interdisciplinary cohorts of students to apply geospatial technologies to real-world challenges.

The GeoTE model goes beyond technical instruction, emphasizing collaboration, problem-solving, and community engagement. Students from fields including agriculture, wildlife, forestry, environmental science, and urban planning use OSM data to analyze and address issues affecting Tanzanian communities while supporting sustainable development goals (SDGs). With strong institutional partnerships, such as with Sokoine University of Agriculture, the program embeds OSM training within academic calendars, offering students academic credit and practical experience.

What makes Cohort 3 stand out is its expanded network of stakeholders and professional mentors, creating a richer, more collaborative learning environment. Participants engage in project-based learning, where they receive mentorship on ideation, mapping, data analysis, and community presentations, preparing them to become the next generation of geospatial changemakers.

This presentation will explore the evolution of the GeoTE Tanzania model, share success stories and lessons learned from Cohort 3, and highlight strategies for scaling academic, community, and industry collaborations around open geospatial technologies. Attendees will walk away with practical insights into how OSM can transform education, foster civic engagement, and build resilient local solutions through youth-led innovation.