History of research:

From the founding of the Department of Geography at the Faculty of Philosophy to the formation of the Institute of Geography, today the Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, great attention has also been devoted to research in the field of Geography Teaching Methodology. A major contribution was made by Dr. Kornel Đere, Dr. Pavle Bugarčić and Dr. Jovan Romelić.

The group studies various segments of geography teaching methodology: methods and techniques of work, teaching principles, contemporary teaching, innovations in teaching, active learning in teaching, but also the historical development of geography teaching, teaching aids and objects, outdoor education, education reforms, school curricula, inclusive education, gifted students, professional development of teachers, etc.

Within the Society of Subject Didacticians, the group members are members of the Geography subject section, whose head is Dr. Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski and coordinator is Dr. Smiljana Đukičin Vučković.

Group members have been involved in several national and international conferences on the topic of teaching methodology:

• Two conferences organized by the Ministry of Education and Sports for the purpose of Education Reform in the Republic of Serbia (“From Vision to Concrete Steps” and “First Steps and Upcoming Challenges”, 05-07.09.2002). (Dr. Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski)
• International Conference – OSI Education Conference 2005: “Education and Open Society: A Critical Look at New Perspectives and Demands”, in Budapest (Dr. Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski)
• Scientific Conference Methodological Aspects of Teaching Improvement – Advantages and Challenges, 2014, Belgrade (all group members)
• International Methodological Scientific Conferences organized by the Hungarian Language Teacher Training Faculty in Subotica, University of Novi Sad, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025.
• Scientific Conference Contemporary Trends in Psychology 2015, Faculty of Philosophy, Novi Sad (all group members)
• Didactic Conference of Subject Didactics. Improving the Teaching Process – Advantages and Challenges, 2018, Belgrade (all group members)
• XXX Conference Trends in Development: “Teachers and Associates as the Center of Change in Higher Education”, Vrnjačka Banja, 7-10.2.2024.

In addition, the members are also active reviewers of both professional and scientific papers, as well as textbooks, manuals and other teaching materials for geography teaching, and Prof. Dr. Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski and Prof. Dr. Ljubica Ivanović Bibić are reviewers at the National Body for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and members of the expert Commission for the expertise of textbook manuscripts and textbook sets for the subject of Geography at the National Education Council. Prof. Dr. Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski is a reviewer within the State Matura Project (“Improving the Quality of Education through the Introduction of Exams at the End of Secondary Education”). Prof. Dr. Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski is a member of the editorial board of the journals “Journal of Subject Didactics” (Serbia), “Serbian Journal of Geosciences” (Serbia) and “Revija za geografijo” (Slovenia).

Prof. Dr. Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski is the president of the commission for obtaining a license for geography teachers, at the Provincial Secretariat for Education, AP Vojvodina.

Research group members:

• PhD Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski, Full Professor
• PhD Ljubica Ivanović Bibić, Full Professor
• PhD Smiljana Đukičin Vučković, Full Professor
• PhD Jelena Milanković, Assistant Professor

Contact:

PhD Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski, Full Professor
E-mail: andjelija.ivkov@dgt.uns.ac.rs; 
tel: +381 21 485 2834