European Association of Geographers
Professional services
UnclaimedA European scientific and professional association connecting geographers, geography educators, researchers, and related practitioners.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The European Association of Geographers, commonly known as EUROGEO, is a nonprofit European scientific society and international nongovernmental organisation that connects geographers and geography-related professionals across education, research, government, planning, cartography, civil society, and business. Its work combines professional networking, geography education, research collaboration, policy engagement, publications, conferences, and participation in European and international projects. The organisation originated in 1979 as the European Standing Conference of Geography Teachers Association, an association-of-associations focused primarily on strengthening the European dimension of geography teaching. Its early work centred on meetings of national geography teacher and geographical associations, originally supported through European Commission activity, together with the publication of a bulletin. In 1994 it adopted the name EUROGEO, reflecting its bulletin and its wider European network of geography organisations. The organisation was accepted as an international NGO with representation at the Council of Europe in 1987 and became a fully participating NGO in 2003. EUROGEO broadened its scope during the 1990s and 2000s. It supported projects using information and communications technology in geography education, promoted European citizenship through geographical learning, and participated in policy discussions concerning the status of geography in schools and higher education. A significant stage in this development was the HERODOT Network for Geography in Higher Education and Teacher Training, a European Commission-funded Socrates-Erasmus thematic network operating in two phases from 2002 to 2005 and 2006 to 2009. HERODOT connected universities, research centres, teacher-training bodies, ministries, companies, and nongovernmental organisations around issues such as quality assurance, the Bologna Process, new technologies, and the development of geography curricula. Following discussions among EUROGEO members and HERODOT participants, the association changed its legal status and remit. At a joint meeting in Ayvalık, Turkey, in June 2009, members approved revised statutes and held elections for the restructured organisation. EUROGEO subsequently presented itself as a membership organisation serving not only teachers and educators but also geographers working in scientific, applied, governmental, commercial, and nonprofit settings. Its activities include organising annual conferences and meetings; publishing books, articles, magazines, proceedings, and the European Journal of Geography; supporting professional development and careers; identifying and sharing good practice; advising policymakers; and representing the interests of geography and geographers before European and international institutions. The association cooperates with bodies including the Council of Europe, the European Union and European Commission, the International Geographical Union, the Association of American Geographers, SEAGA, UNEP-related initiatives, and other geography and education networks. EUROGEO has participated in or supported projects involving geographic information systems, geospatial and digital-earth education, data and statistics in schools, curriculum development, teacher training, digital citizenship, ocean literacy, youth participation, and the capabilities approach to geography education. Examples include HERODOT, Euro.Geo, digital-earth.eu, School on the Cloud, iGuess and iGuess 2, I-Use, GeoCapabilities, SeaChange, and YouthMetre. Membership is available to individuals, organisations, and young geographers, including links with the European Association of Young Geographers. The association is governed by a Presidium composed of a president, secretary general, treasurer, vice presidents, and, where appropriate, co-opted members.
History
EUROGEO was founded in 1979 as the European Standing Conference of Geography Teachers Association, initially bringing together national geography-teacher and geographical associations. Its original purpose was to promote a European perspective in geography education and to encourage teaching about the countries and societies of Europe. The organisation operated through volunteer committees and periodic conferences, with a bulletin circulated between meetings. In 1987 EUROGEO was recognised as an international nongovernmental organisation with representation at the Council of Europe. Its representatives participated in NGO activity in Strasbourg and sought to articulate the role of geography in European education and public policy. In 1994 the association adopted the EUROGEO name, reflecting the title of its bulletin and the development of a broader European network. A 1999 Minerva project, Euro.Geo, focused on information and communications technology resources for geography teaching and European citizenship education. The organisation expanded its web and project activity after a 2001 meeting in Liverpool, where members supported work to share information about the status of geography in European countries. This initiative produced online information, interactive maps, and multilingual teaching and training resources. In 2002 Karl Donert was elected president, succeeding the earlier leadership associated with Henk Meier. The Council of Europe subsequently reviewed EUROGEO's NGO status, and in 2003 the association became a fully participating NGO. A major part of EUROGEO's early twenty-first-century development came through HERODOT, a Socrates-Erasmus thematic network for geography in higher education and teacher training. Running in two phases from 2002 to 2005 and 2006 to 2009, HERODOT addressed higher-education quality, the Bologna Process, teacher preparation, technology, curriculum, and research in geographical education. The network generated publications and meetings throughout Europe and eventually connected hundreds of organisations, including universities, research institutes, ministries, companies, NGOs, and teacher-training bodies. It also contributed to the assessment of geography within the Tuning Educational Structures in Europe initiative. Discussion within HERODOT helped broaden EUROGEO's remit beyond school teachers and educators. At the 2008 annual meeting in Liverpool, members unanimously agreed to revise the association's legal status and purpose. EUROGEO and HERODOT participants then worked on a new membership structure. At a joint meeting in Ayvalık, Turkey, in June 2009, the restructured EUROGEO adopted revised statutes and held elections. The new association formally served educational, scientific, research, and applied geography communities from a European perspective. Since 2009 EUROGEO has continued to build networks and participate in European projects. Its work has included digital-earth.eu, School on the Cloud, GIS teacher-training initiatives such as iGuess and iGuess 2, the I-Use project on data and statistics in schools, and GeoCapabilities, which developed professional-development resources based on a capabilities approach to geography teaching. The association has also participated in SeaChange, a Horizon 2020 project promoting ocean literacy, and coordinated YouthMetre, which used digital participation to help young people engage with EU youth policy. EUROGEO's publishing activity includes books, articles, conference proceedings, magazines, and the European Journal of Geography, first issued in 2010 and indexed in Scopus from 2014. The association maintains relationships with the Council of Europe, European Union institutions, the International Geographical Union, the Association of American Geographers, SEAGA, and other geographic, educational, environmental, and civic networks. Its membership encompasses individual geographers, organisations, young members, educators, public officials, planners, cartographers, researchers, nonprofit workers, entrepreneurs, students, and retirees. Governance is carried out by a Presidium led by a president and supported by a secretary general, treasurer, vice presidents, and co-opted members.
- 2016
YouthMetre coordination
[1]EUROGEO coordinated the YouthMetre project, focused on youth empowerment and digital participation in policymaking.
- 2014
Journal indexed in Scopus
[1]The European Journal of Geography was accepted for Scopus indexing.
- 2013
Jean Monnet grant
[1]EUROGEO received a Jean Monnet grant for pan-European associations.
- 2010
European Journal of Geography begins
[1]The association's European Journal of Geography published its first issue.
- 2009
Restructured membership organisation
[1]Members approved revised statutes and a broader remit covering educational, scientific, research, and applied geography.
- 2003
Full participation at the Council of Europe
[1]EUROGEO became a fully participating NGO after a review of its Council of Europe status.
- 2002
HERODOT network and leadership transition
[1]The HERODOT thematic network for higher education and teacher training began, while Karl Donert was elected president of EUROGEO.
- 1999
Euro.Geo Minerva project
[1]A European project developed ICT-supported geography materials intended to encourage European citizenship.
- 1994
Adoption of the EUROGEO name
[1]The organisation adopted the EUROGEO name as its European network broadened.
- 1987
Council of Europe NGO representation
[1]EUROGEO was accepted as an international NGO with representation at the Council of Europe.
Products and positioning
A pan-European, nonprofit professional and scientific network that links geography education with academic research, applied practice, policy engagement, and international cooperation.
Academic journal · 2010
European Journal of Geography
EUROGEO's principal journal outlet publishes research and scholarly discussion concerning geography, geographical education, geospatial competence, and related European and international themes. It began publication in 2010 and was accepted for Scopus indexing in 2014, giving the journal broader academic discoverability.
Professional membership · 1979
EUROGEO membership
Membership connects individual geographers, organisations, and young members with European professional networks, events, publications, project opportunities, and discussions concerning the role of geography in education, research, policy, and applied work.
Education and training programmes
European geography education projects
EUROGEO develops and supports collaborative projects that produce teacher-training materials, curriculum resources, digital tools, networks, and professional-development opportunities in geography and geospatial education.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016YouthMetre
European Union
A forward-looking project designed to strengthen young people's participation in democratic life through e-participation and engagement with EU youth priorities.
Outcome. The project developed an online tool, training, and guidance intended to connect young people's perceived needs with institutional policymaking.
- 2013School on the Cloud
Europe
A network linking education with cloud technologies and digital citizenship, building on EUROGEO's interest in digital learning.
Outcome. The network supported collaboration and experimentation around cloud-based education.
- 2013GeoCapabilities
Europe · International
A multilateral project focused on teacher development and the use of a capabilities approach to explain the relevance and power of geographical thinking.
Outcome. The project created and piloted online professional-development resources, teaching materials, communication tools, and international teacher exchanges.
- 2013SeaChange
Europe
A Horizon 2020 project promoting ocean literacy and encouraging citizens to adopt more sustainable relationships with seas and oceans.
Outcome. EUROGEO contributed to awareness raising and educational activity concerning ocean literacy.
- 2002HERODOT Network
Europe · International
A Socrates-Erasmus thematic network addressing geography in higher education and teacher training, including quality assurance, the Bologna Process, technology, and curriculum development.
Outcome. Across two project phases, HERODOT generated publications and events and connected more than 300 European organisations with additional international partners.
- 1999Euro.Geo
Europe
A Minerva project that developed ICT-supported geography materials and promoted European citizenship through school geography.
Outcome. The project produced educational materials supporting geography teaching and European perspectives in school education.
Brand decisions
2010
Launch the European Journal of GeographyProduct launchBackground
EUROGEO's expanding academic and professional role created demand for a regular publication platform.
Action taken
The association began publishing the European Journal of Geography.
Aftermath
The journal became an ongoing outlet for geographical scholarship and was later indexed in Scopus.
2009
Broaden the association's remit beyond geography teachingStrategyBackground
Discussions during the HERODOT network highlighted the need for a European association serving geographers in education, research, government, and applied professions, rather than only teacher associations.
Action taken
EUROGEO members approved revised statutes and restructured the organisation as a wider membership association.
Aftermath
The organisation expanded its activities to include scientific, research, applied, professional, and policy dimensions of geography.
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