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7. Courses Evaluation Director of the centre, course director and Director/Dean of the ISRO/.DOS centre take regular meetings at least once a month to find out technical and non-technical points/problems. Performance of participants is evaluated through written, oral, home assignments, computer assisted interactive methods etc. at periodic intervals during each module. During the sessions (modules) a 3 hour examination is concluded in each subject. Viva voce is conducted to evaluate the practical understanding of the subject. Pilot project is assessed by a committee of experts specially setup to address the subject matter of each candidate. At the end of the course, feedback on a 5 point grade is taken for each participants. After completion of the course, an evaluation report is made by the course director. The following grading system is followed Passed with distinction (Grade A+) > 75 % marks Passed in First class (Grade A) 60 - 75 % marks Passed (Grade B+) 50 - 60 % marks Project report Recommended / non-recommended The centre also improves regularly in terms of education standards, course curriculum and other related facilities provided to the participants to this effect the suggestions and feedback by the participants are also given utmost importance. Centre also asks for feedback from alumni, after the completion of the course, as to how the participants are using their knowledge grained at the centre in the home country/organization. This gives us more confidence in fulfilling the objectives of the regional centre. 8. Publications The centre also publishes a number of publications pertaining to the achievements, about the ongoing & future courses. The publications are in the form of NewsLetter (quarterly issue), new announcement brochures, General information brochure, memoirs marking the end of each course and souvenirs. So far 12 issues of NewsLetter have been released. Recent one of December, 2000 has been released. In general, newsletter are portaying a lead article, progress of students, centre's activities, announcement and opinion. 9. International Linkages 14 countries of the Asia-Pacific region have signed agreement with the centre besides the UN-OOSA, thus establishing International cooperation and support to the centre. In the true spirit of international co-operation that underlines the very formation of CSSTE-AP, the centre entered into MOU with four institutions in Europe namely ISU, GDTA, TWAS & ICS-UNIDO in a bid to further its objectives of capacity development in Asia-Pacific region. The principle of these linkages is to benefit from and channelise the established facilities premier centres of the world (see Fig. 8). Besides, the centre receives sponsorship from many international organizations and obtains faculty support from institutions world wide. 10. Impact Of The Courses To Society Most of the problems faced by the Asia Pacific countries such as floods, storms, forest fire, land degradation, erosion, lack of proper education, stress on agricultural productivity etc. are addressed in the 9 month courses and practical examples are demonstrated on these. Thus the students get a total exposure to the problems and the need of the AP region while also building within themselves a scientific and technical capacity to address these. Thus the CSSTE-AP has been able to channelise the UN goal of building self reliance and a capacity in space science and technology towards mitigating the problems of the region and managing resources judiciously. Besides, the centre has also become a role model for other regional centres in the world that are in their formative stages. 11. Future Plans Future plans for the centre include
Education and capacity building is fundamental to any organization/country. Space science and Technology has applications in a spectrum of activities of day to day life. CSSTE-AP is fulfilling this need of comprehensive capacity building and enriching nations in this front-line technology leading to self reliance and regional growth. Figure captions  Fig. 1 Rationale of the educational programmes. Fig. 2 Summary of the beneficiaries from the CSSTE-AP Fig. 3 Curriculum structure and emphasis given in various disciplines. Fig. 4 Pilot projects carried out in RS&GIS Fig. 5 Pilot projects carried out in Satellite Communications Fig. 6 Pilot projects carried out in Satellite Meteorology and Global Climate. Fig. 7 Pilot projects carried out in Space and Atmospheric science.  Fig. 8 International recognition of CSSTE-AP
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