Research is an integral part of the academic operating mode of Harokopio University, and has i.a. a leading role in the continuous improvement of the educational process. The Geography Department’s goal is excellence in order to meet the needs of the society, to advance knowledge and to link the researchers with the labour market The research carried out at the Department of Geography focuses on contemporary fields of the geography science and concerns specific topics of Human Geography, Geosciences, Environment, Spatial Planning and Geoinformatics.
In order to facilitate and strengthen research, the Department of Geography has signed memoranda of understanding on cooperation in research and education with scientific organizations and organizations of the civil society (National Hellenic Research Foundation – NHRF – EIE, World Wildlife Fund – WWF, École française d’Athènes – EFA, Hellenic National Center of Social Research –ΕΚΚΕ, and currently under discussion with the Hellenic Military Geographical Service and the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania – MAICh).
The Department of Geography is also member of international networks as AGILE – The Association of Geographic Information Laboratories for Europe (OpenGeospatial Consortium), iMnet – Immigration Mediterranean Network, among others.
The Department of Geography has three laboratories:
- Laboratory of Physical Geography and Environment
- Laboratory Human and applied Geography
- Laboratory of Geoinformatics and Cartography
The laboratories are used for lectures and specialized courses as well as for research purposes.