Chulalongkorn University to Host iGeo2025
Chulalongkorn University hosts the 21st International Geography Olympiad, with youth from over 50 countries competing from July 26 to August 1, 2025.
Chulalongkorn University will host the 21st International Geography Olympiad (iGeo 2025) in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the occasion of her 70th birthday. The event will take place from July 26 to August 1, 2025, at Chulalongkorn University, bringing together youth from over 50 countries worldwide to compete and exchange knowledge in geography.
The press conference for the 21st International Geography Olympiad was held on February 24, 2025, at the Information Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Chulalongkorn University Auditorium.
Professor Emeritus Dr.Charas Suwanwela, Vice Chairman of the POSN Foundation, stated that the 21st International Geography Olympiad (iGeo 2025) is a significant platform for young participants worldwide to showcase their geographical knowledge, exchange expertise, and build academic and cultural networks with peers from various countries.
The first iGeo was held in 1996 in The Hague, Netherlands. Hosting this event in Thailand will inspire both Thai and international youth to recognize the importance of geography in modern global development. It will also highlight Thailand’s academic strengths on the international stage and serve as a meaningful occasion to honor Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on her 70th birthday, acknowledging her dedication to advancing geography education at the school level.
Professor Dr.Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, stated that the university is committed to advancing knowledge and fostering innovation for the benefit of society and the world. It actively promotes education in geography and environmental studies to address contemporary and future global challenges while generating knowledge that contributes to sustainable development.
Hosting the 21st International Geography Olympiad highlights Thailand’s academic strength in geography, demonstrating the country’s readiness in terms of personnel, facilities, and infrastructure to support an international competition. Key venues at Chulalongkorn University prepared for the event include the Chulalongkorn Auditorium, the Chula Academic Testing Center, and Sala Phra Kiao, which will host the Cultural Night.
Associate Professor Pongsri Chanhao, Chair of the Geography Committee of the POSN Foundation and Chair of the Local Organizing Committee for the 21st International Geography Olympiad, recounted the origins of the competition in Thailand.
In 2012, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn delivered a keynote speech at the International Geography Conference at the University of Cologne, Germany. Upon returning to Thailand, she initiated efforts for the POSN Foundation to explore and promote opportunities for Thai students to participate in geography competitions. The foundation mobilized university faculty members to develop an Olympiad geography curriculum and textbooks for training both teachers and students.
By 2015, Thailand sent its first team to compete in the International Geography Olympiad. Since then, the country has continued to select and send representatives to engage in knowledge exchange on the global stage. In 2017, the POSN Foundation established 15 Geography Olympiad Centers nationwide—comprising seven university centers and eight school centers—to serve as testing venues and training camps for selecting students to compete nationally.
Dr. Kedtip Supawanich, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), stated that OBEC is committed to developing students’ potential toward academic excellence and enhancing the country’s competitiveness. As part of this mission, OBEC fully supports the International Geography Olympiad to raise the standard of geography education in schools nationwide.
Since 2015, OBEC has collaborated with the POSN Foundation to identify high-potential schools and establish them as POSN Academic Olympiad School Centers for Geography. These include Triam Udom Suksa School, Samsenwittayalai School, Suankularb Wittayalai School, Chulabhorn Royal Academy Science School in Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Hatyaiwittayalai School. OBEC has also conducted regular training programs for geography teachers based on the Olympiad curriculum.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suradech Chotiudompant, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, expressed great pride in the Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, for being honored as the host of the 21st International Geography Olympiad.
He emphasized that the Department of Geography is a strong academic unit within the Faculty of Arts, continuously advancing in its field and playing a vital role in the faculty’s academic excellence. The department has also been designated as the POSN Geography Olympiad Center responsible for training and selecting students from Bangkok schools, except those already serving as POSN centers.
As a result of these efforts, students from the Chulalongkorn POSN Geography Olympiad Center were selected to represent Thailand at the International Geography Olympiad—two students in 2023 and one student in 2024—out of four national representatives each year. This achievement reflects the success of nurturing Bangkok-based students to compete at the international level.
For event details, Asst. Prof. Dr. Chanita Duangyiwa, Head of the Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, stated that the International Geography Olympiad is a collaborative effort between the Department of Geography and a network of geography scholars from universities across Thailand.
The event is honored by the gracious presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who will preside over the opening ceremony on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at Chulalongkorn University Auditorium. Approximately 50 countries are expected to participate in the competition.
The Olympiad consists of three main components: Written Test, Fieldwork Test, and Multimedia Test. Additionally, several activities will promote cultural exchange and knowledge sharing, including a poster exhibition featuring projects from participating countries, excursions in Bangkok and nearby areas to explore Thailand’s key geographical, cultural, historical sites, such as Ayutthaya Historical Park, Khorat Geopark and Si Thep World Heritage Site, and Creative tourism experiences in Nan Province. These activities aim to enrich participants’ understanding of Thailand’s geography, history, and cultural heritage.
