About
History of Geography Olympiad
The International Geography Olympiad (iGeo) was initiated by the International Geographical Union (IGU) with the aim of encouraging young people to study geography and environmental sciences. It also serves as a platform for fostering relationships and mutual understanding among students from different regions worldwide.
The first iGeo competition was held in 1996 in The Hague, Netherlands, and it was initially organized every two years. However, starting in 2013, the competition has been held annually. Each participating country selects four students aged 16–19 years who are still enrolled in secondary education. The official language of the competition is English, requiring participants to have strong English proficiency.
Thailand’s Participation in iGeo
Thailand’s involvement in iGeo began in 2012 when Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was invited to preside over the International Geography Conference (IGC 2012) at the University of Cologne, Germany. During the opening ceremony, the gold medal winners of iGeo were honored.
Upon returning to Thailand, Her Royal Highness expressed her wish for Thailand to participate in the competition. In response, the POSN Foundation (Promotion of Academic Olympiad and Development of Science Education Foundation) gathered geography experts from various universities to develop a curriculum and study materials for Thailand’s participation. This curriculum covers physical geography, human geography, and technical geography to support the training of both teachers and students for the selection process.
In 2015, POSN conducted the first national selection exam and training camp for Thai students. The first Thai team competed in iGeo and won one silver medal and three bronze medals.
Application Process
- Application Period: June – July each year
- Selection Exam: August each year
- Results Announcement: Around September each year
Training Camps
- Camp 1: Selected students undergo training in October.
- Camp 2: Students who pass Camp 1 continue training in March.
National Olympiad Competition
The National Geography Olympiad is a competition among students from all POSN geography centers across Thailand. The examination for the national level competition is conducted entirely in English.
From this competition, four students are selected to represent Thailand in the International Geography Olympiad (iGeo).
Direct University Admission Privileges
Universities offer direct admission privileges for students from POSN centers, allowing them to enter higher education programs without standard entrance exams. Details regarding these special admissions are announced on the POSN website or the universities’ websites.
