Geo Future School (GFS) is a new, innovative program in secondary education that focuses on future-oriented education. In the program, funded by the EU, students are encouraged to think about major (European) issues of today and the future, such as:

-Energy, natural resources, climate change issues

-Sustainability and health geography (‘smart cities’ concept)

-Water abundance and scarcity

-European citizenship and globalization

Geography as a multidisciplinary subject is at the centre of these important themes, but other subjects such as history, biology, and informatics play an important role as well. The program emphasizes cooperation between schools, companies and knowledge institutes. This is important for young people, because it encourages their understanding of the daily work at these companies or institutions, and their relevance. Students learn by doing, inside and outside the school. This is done through (international) fieldwork and meeting important actors in the field, for example through guest lessons. Students are challenged to think in terms of solutions and scenarios. Another major aspect in the program, is Geo-ICT. There is a huge demand of well-qualified Geo-ICT professionals who can adequately deal with geo-information.

Are you curious to know more? Could this be something to start up in your own environment?

For the third time, we are organizing a week for teachers who are interested in the Geo Future School concept. During this week, we will give you input on the content of the program and the important themes. We will introduce you to some important Dutch schools in the field and we will equip you with tools and ideas that you can apply in your own environment.

The week will take place from 12th-16th of June 2017. We have an EU budget for ten (geography) teachers to join the program. The budget is to pay your flight up to a maximum of 275 euro and a hotel in Utrecht up to a maximum of 500 euro.

From every country two teachers are welcome. At least one of them must be a geography teacher. Both teachers should be teachers that teach regularly in a secondary school with 10-18 year old students.

We prefer to invite pairs of teachers from the same school. Participants should be fluent in English reading, writing and speaking.

Preliminary programme

Monday June 12: Arrival before 13:00 PM at Schiphol Airport Amsterdam or before 14:00 PM in Utrecht. Introduction session in the afternoon. Excursion in Utrecht and welcome dinner organised at the end of the day.

Tuesday June 13:From 9:00 AM -17:00 PM lectures about GFS concept and workshops to develop your own GFS module; no dinner organised. Wednesday June 14: Visit to GFS school and Geo-ICT centre. GFS workshop. No dinner organised.

Thursday June 15: Morning workshop at Utrecht University to develop your own GFS module. Afternoon visit to Amsterdam, including GFS school and GFS presentations of secondary students. Central farewell dinner organised.

Friday June 16: From 9:00 AM -13:00 presentation by country of GFS products developed in this week, central discussion. Lunch. Departure home.

If you are interested, please apply March 30^th at the latest. Please send an email to: t.beneker@uu.nl if you want to apply. We will send you more information about the application.X

We are looking forward to welcome you!

Dr. Tine Béneker

Associate Professor in Geography Education Utrecht University Heidelberglaan 2

3584 CS Utrecht t.beneker@uu.nlX