On the 21^st of May, the GIS 708 students went on an excursion to AfriGIS to view their workplace, get insight into various fields in GIS from professionals and ask questions regarding our futures in the GIS industry. The trip to AfriGIS was incredibly informative, offering us a realistic insight into the environments where many of us will work after graduating. It provided a clear understanding of the typical workday and the responsibilities we can expect. While we often hear about industry experiences, in theory, nothing compares to witnessing it firsthand. This visit was also instrumental in guiding our decisions about the types of workplaces we might prefer.

This visit followed an exercise in which we used data provided by AfriGIS to create a road network. For this exercise, representatives of AfriGIS (Christopher, Charl, Maretha) visited us on Hatfield campus, where they gave us a hands-on practical exercise. This exercise taught us valuable lessons about the type of work the company does, the standards required, and the challenges encountered when using real-world data. From that exercise, we already had an initial understanding of the company and its offerings. However, the visit expanded our knowledge, provided a tangible workplace setting, and introduced many of us to the professional environment for the first time.

As GIS students, we face many career choices, and being exposed to a leading GIS company helped clarify the kind of work we want to pursue. Determining whether a particular industry or workplace suits us before entering the workforce is crucial, as it aids in making informed decisions about our preferences and compatibility. Overall, the trip was a success, enriching our perspectives and offering valuable insights into life after university.

For the Geography and Environmental Science students, this was an eye-opening experience. Initially, many of us assumed that the GIS field would be less accessible to us due to the difference in our academic background. However, discovering that the senior database administrator of AfriGIS holds an honours degree in Environmental Management broadened our horizons to the possibility of having a career in this field and has given some students the courage to pursue job opportunities in this field after their studies.

The GIS 708 students would like to thank AfriGIS for welcoming us into their workplace. We value all of your advice and insights as people in the professional workplace, from how we compile our CVs, to workplace etiquette. Thank you for also introducing us to the different types of career choices that are available within a GIS-based company. This trip has enhanced our knowledge and understanding of the professional world, and for that, we are thankful for the experience.

-  Lesego Molale and Simphiwe Skondhe on behalf of the GIS 708 group