The European Geography Association (EGEA) is an association encouraging European students to engage with geography through hands-on learning experiences. EGEA provides exchange programs and excursions to facilitate connection between European students and others from across the globe.
EGEA also provide publications in partnership with EuroGeography. They operate in 32 European nations and have over 3,000 active participants.
The aims of EGEA are to offer personal development opportunities to young geographers across Europe, and enable them to fulfill their potential as young scientists. EGEA provides complementary and alternative learning opportunities, beyond formal education of geography. This is done by encouraging and enabling involvement in intercultural interaction, as well as by development of academic, scientific, cultural and professional activities intended for young geographers on terms of equality, diversity and non-discrimination. EGEA actively contributes towards the promotion of geography through its network capabilities and through strategic partnerships, with the ultimate goal to strengthen geography's place in members’ local communities.
History
The EGEA was founded in 1987 by students from universities in three main cities; Barcelona, Warszawa and Utrecht. The aim for the organisation was to allow students from varying European countries to exchange knowledge regarding the geography of the region. One year later, in 1988, EGEA was officially registered as a foundation with chair in Utrecht. In 1996 the first website of EGEA was launched. The homepage would become the central meeting point for all EGEA members across Europe.At the 2009 General Assembly in Heeg a change of EGEA's legal status was decided. Since then EGEA is working as an association. Until 2014 EGEA has grown from its initial three entities to a current number of 90 entities in 36 different countries.
Activities
There are several local, national, and international activities organized by the entities of EGEA. The main events of the year are the congresses. Other annual events are national weekends and summer schools. In addition, entities organize their own events. The spectrum of content of these events reaches from scientific seminars or excursions to events where the main focus lies on getting together. A high popularity among EGEAns are exchanges between entities.
Congresses
Five congresses take place each year: four Regional Congresses in Spring, organized by one or more entities in each region, and the Annual Congress held in September.
Congresses always include workshops, excursions, trainings, and lectures with a scientific background. There are also meetings for Contact Persons of the entities and regional or international assemblies.
Exchanges Students exchanges are the core activities of EGEA. They enable small groups from 2 or 3 EGEA entities to visit each other in their countries, learn about culture, explore local habits and experience that country's natural environment. Most importantly, they enable young geographers to get to know their international peers. Following the agreement, one entity is hosting the other one. During the hosting time young people take care of the accommodation, food, and programme. Later on, the hosting entity becomes the visiting one and repays the visit. Exchanges are numerously the most attended activities, when taking into consideration number of events taking place every year.
Scientific Symposium Each year at the Annual Congress there is also a scientific symposium, where the members are able to present their scientific work, for example diploma or PhD theses.
Seminars There are a few seminars every year, always organized by several entities. The seminars are held on a scientific level that cover different themes in the particular disciplines of geography.
Summer/Winter schools During the semester breaks in summer and winter EGEA also gives students the chance to participate at self-organized summer or winter schools.
Weekend Activities The national or international weekend activities are organized by the EGEA. In most cases there is a main theme to show particular regional or local characteristics. The programme can be scientific or have a more informal level. Some of the regional weekend activities, such as those in the Baltic states, the Slavic countries, Germany, the Benelux countries, the Iberian peninsula and the Balkans, are mainly aimed at people from that region, whereas other weekends are open to all EGEA members.
Structure
EGEA was divided into four administrative regions: the North & Baltic, the Eastern, the Western and the Euro-Mediterranean regions until 2024. Now EGEA is divided to three regions: North & Baltic, Western and Eastern & Mediterranean regions. Every region elects a new Regional Contact Person each year. As helping hands they have one or more Regional Assistants. Together they form the Regional Teams. The function of Regional Contact Person was introduced in 2012 to relieve EGEA's board members of coordinating the regions.★ European Geography Association - geography organizations. (2021). Retrieved 29 March 2021
Regions
Source:
North & Baltic Region
This region is located in Northern Europe around the Baltic Sea. Entities that belong there are situated in: Northern and Eastern Germany, Poland, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The countries in this region that currently don't have active entities are Denmark, Iceland and Latvia.
Western Region
By members and entities the Western Region is the largest administrative region of EGEA. It comprises the British Isles, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Western and Southern Germany, Switzerland, Austria and parts of France. The country in this region that currently doesn't have an active entity is Luxembourg.
Eastern & Mediterranean Region
This region contains all entities of countries that are located around the Mediterranean Sea and in Eastern Europe. There are entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Russia (except for Kaliningrad and Saint Petersburg), Slovakia and Ukraine. The countries in this region that currently don't have active entities are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Italy, Russia and Moldova.
Board of EGEA
The Board consists of six persons, four of whom fulfill the functions of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. These four board members are elected by the General Assembly out of individuals from the Association. A representative of the entity chosen to organise the Annual Congress was also a member of the board, but this latter position was replaced by an elected Event and Public Relations Advisor at the General Assembly of 2015. The Board represents and is the executive body of the Association. The Board is supported by the Secretariat Coordinator, previously called the Secretariat Director, whose seat is the office at the EGEA headquarters in Kraków. This position was first created in 2005 and contrived by the entity of Utrecht. It has now been moved to Kraków. In 2016 also the grant team with its coordinator was created to take care of financial grants.
Year President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Event Advisor PR Advisor Secretariat Coordinator** 2025/26 Klemen Baronik Seline Daumal Hannes Rottgardt Olivia Deman Job Stopar Heli Türi Paulina Wróblewska 2024/25 Julia Nejman Luka Lešić Michał Purta Kristof Heimann Céline Walker Tabea Kottek Jasper Oosterloo 2023/24 Runa Witte Amalia Ilie Lars Kohlmeyer Jonas Martens Max Buchhart Veera Niemi Raf Martens 2022/23 Henrik Stein Josefa Loreth Jared Young Sigrid Paavle Patrycja Sokołowska Daniela Kebertová Raf Martens
Year President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Event and PR Advisor* Secretariat Coordinator** 2021/22 Micol Alessandri Esther de Winter Marie Johanna Univer Luana Schena Stanisław Konieczny Raf Martens 2020/21 Dylan Colonne Rhune van Cleemput Victoria Stoyanova Alexander Basten Daria Karsonova Suzanne Lansbergen 2019/20 Ksenia Simonova Jakub Růžička Johanna Zempel Jeroen Royer Merli Ilves Jelle Bulens 2018/19 Swen Schmitz Valentina Vrhovec Milan Mík Frederike Schneider Anna Feliksbrot Albert-Jan van der Werp 2017/18 David Rabensteiner Pietu Niinimäki Lea Rebernik Vít Volný Anselm Eberl Rick de Graaf 2016/17 Simon Schudel Ines Stadler Vilna Tyystjärvi Joonas Pöllänen Marek Borkowski Rick de Graaf 2015/16 Daan Smekens Florin Cioloboc Maria Kolesnikova Nina Wack Michael Witte Andries Bosma 2014/15 Nora Varga Claudia Rock Wendy Wuyts André Berger Robbert Kramer Sander van der Klei 2013/14 Colette Caruana Christoph Götz Isabella Rojs Alexandra Savulescu Marius Vidac Cecile Kerssemakers 2012/13 Jirka Konietzny Niels Grootjans Petronela Bordeianu Maciej Radyno Anna Toloczko Rik de Kleijn 2011/12 Svetlana Samsonova Joanna Wawrynowicz Henning Kronen Michael Poulsen Kristel Sieprath Sanne Heijt 2010/11 Alexandru Drăgan Sven Vanderhaegen Kaija Murasov Mihovil Masic Carolin Ziegler Roos Saalbrink 2009/10 Claudia Iordache Slobodan Cvetkovic Milda Latakaite Samantha van der Sluis Catalina Ionita Jelle Gulmans 2008/09 Jeroen van Pelt Kamila Jankowska Milena Karanović Dennis Söderholm Martinus Spoelstra Lisette von Leijenhorst 2007/08 Aleš Oven Vlad Dumitrescu Kret Masik David Jochum Misha Lobanov Malou Weber 2006/07 Heli Rekiranta Alexandros Ziogas Anastasia Kazakova Tim van de Laar Lukasz Jankowski Gert Ruepert 2005/06 Alois Humor Vojkan Gajovic Anna Bieniasz Sandor Kreuze Florian Fischer Gert Ruepert 2004/05 Vita Valuinaite Igor Pilipenko Rok Godec Andrea Jordan Leftheris Eleftheriadis 2003/04 Leftheris Eleftheriadis Natalia Krivenok Kristjan Pärnamägi Kathrin Klei Gert Ruepert 2002/03 Jean-François André Joanna Markowska Kristjan Pärnamägi Heidi van Otten Tomasz Dusza 2001/02 Denis Ceric Magdalena Bednarz Erki Saluveer Winneke Lobeek Sylvain Rigollet 2000/01 Sylvain Rigollet Anna Tsukanova Ann Ideon Remco van der Hoogt Wojtek Zalewski 1999/2000 Vera Veranda Magda Rak Helle-Mai Pedastsaar Sebastian Mosler Primoz Pipan 1998/99 Erika Eloranta Primoz Pipan Svetlana Malysheva Dennis van der Avoort Tonia Koops 1997/98 Teresa Gomes Piotr Strubel Erika Eloranta Dennis van der Avoort Catrin Effe 1996/97 Teresa Gomes Mait Rei Piotr Strubel Henk Looijen Nadia Dida 1995/96 Catrin Effe Sebastian Pichinski Helder Santos Rebecca Haacker Ricardo Coutada 1994/95 Ricardo Coutada Ricardo Coutada Maciej Dabski Berend Bock Monika Dittrich 1993/94 Ricardo Coutada Adam Sniadowski Ingibjörg Bjornsdottir Berend Bock Tiit Tammaru 1992/93 Jarna Karrila Joanna Widy-Kwiatkowska Jorge Humberto Marije Willems Xavier Munoz i Torrent
until 2012 Annual Congress Organiser, then until 2015 Annual Congress Coordinator. until 2016 Secretariat Director
Regional Contact Persons
The Regional Contact Persons maintain the contact between the entities in their respective regions and the European Board. At the Annual Congress 2024, the Regional Restructuring went into effect, turning the previous four regions into three new regions.
Year EAST & MEDITERRANEAN NORTH & BALTIC WEST 2025/26 Tadej Kapun Anna Nozderka Maria Aulbach 2024/25 Klemen Baronik Karolina Sentyrz-Kołodziej Matthew Federico Becker