Geography Teachers Society of Slovenia

The Geography Teachers Society of Slovenia (Slovene: Društvo učiteljev geografije Slovenije, DUGS) is a voluntary professional association founded on 6 November 1998 in Kranjska Gora and formally registered on 16 December 1998. The initiative to establish the society, inspired by international examples, was realised by Jurij Kunaver. The association is headquartered in Ljubljana and is a member of the Association of Slovenian Geographers (Zveza geografov Slovenije). It is also part of EUROGEO, the European association of geography teachers. DUGS works to connect geography teachers in Slovenia and abroad, organises teacher training, and carries out activities that popularise geography and its practical, everyday usefulness. Its most prominent activities include an annual two-day autumn camp for geography teachers, Kocen's Saturday (Kocenova sobota), an educational meeting in Ponikva, international conferences on geography teaching, the Fabiani Days (Fabianijevi dnevi), a competition for geographical presentation of one's home region, and attention to the use of information technology in teaching. The society is active in the school year 2026/2027 with a programme of professional development events registered in KATIS, the Slovenian national system for continuing education of education professionals. These include "Different Geography: Lipovšek Camp" and other seminars. DUGS also participates as a partner in the cross-border educational project "Let's flow together – Action Days for the Mura", which received a prestigious European Water Award. The third Action Day for the Mura took place on 22 May 2026 in Gosdorf, Austria, near the Mura tower. The society also organises photo competitions such as "Mi v..." (Us in...). As a non-profit voluntary association, DUGS does not sell commercial products; its "offerings" are educational events, camps, conferences, competitions, and projects for geography teachers and students. It is a membership-based organisation rather than a company, and its activities are funded through membership fees, project grants, and partnerships.

The Geography Teachers Society of Slovenia (DUGS) was established at a founding assembly on 6 November 1998 in Kranjska Gora and formally registered on 16 December 1998. The initiative to create the society, following international models, was carried out by Jurij Kunaver. The association has its seat in Ljubljana and is a member of the Association of Slovenian Geographers (Zveza geografov Slovenije). It is also included in EUROGEO, the European association of geography teachers. Since its founding, DUGS has focused on connecting geography teachers in Slovenia and abroad, organising professional training, and promoting geography and its practical and everyday usefulness. Among its most notable activities are the annual two-day autumn camp for geography teachers, Kocen's Saturday (Kocenova sobota) – an educational meeting in Ponikva, international conferences on geography teaching, the Fabiani Days (Fabianijevi dnevi) – a competition for geographical presentation of one's home region, and attention to the use of information technology in teaching. In the 2026/2027 school year, DUGS prepared a series of education programmes registered in KATIS, the Slovenian national system for continuing education of education professionals. These include "Different Geography: Lipovšek Camp" and other seminars. The society also participates as a partner in the cross-border educational project "Let's flow together – Action Days for the Mura", which received a prestigious European Water Award. The third Action Day for the Mura took place on 22 May 2026 in Gosdorf, Austria, near the Mura tower. DUGS also organises photo competitions such as "Mi v..." (Us in...). As a voluntary association, DUGS operates on a non-profit basis, funded through membership fees, project grants, and partnerships. It does not have commercial products; its activities are educational events, camps, conferences, competitions, and projects aimed at geography teachers and students.

• Founding assembly held in Kranjska Gora.

• Formal registration of the society.

• 3rd Action Day for the Mura held in Gosdorf, Austria.

• Project Let's flow together – Action Days for the Mura received the European Water Award.

• Lipovšek Camp – Zgornje Posočje 2026 scheduled to take place on 9–10 October 2026.

A non-profit professional association for geography teachers in Slovenia, focused on networking, professional development, and popularising geography.

• Lipovšek Camp (Different Geography)

  Annual two-day autumn camp for geography teachers, held in different regions of Slovenia.

• Kocenova sobota

  Educational meeting in Ponikva.

• Fabianijevi dnevi

  Competition for geographical presentation of one's home region.

• Let's flow together – Action Days for the Mura

  Cross-border educational project in which DUGS participates as a partner.

1. 1DUGS – Spletni portal Društva učiteljev geografije Slovenijedrustvo-dugs.si
2. 2Wikidata: Geography Teachers Society of Sloveniawikidata.org
3. 3Društvo učiteljev geografije Slovenije – Wikipediasl.wikipedia.org