Erasmus+ funds the GEM Programme for 4 more intakes on its 21st anniversary

The GEM MSc programme has secured continued Erasmus+ funding for 70 full scholarships across four intakes beginning in September 2026.

The €4.6m grant represents a significant achievement in the 21^st anniversary of the programme, coordinated by the ITC Faculty, which has trained over 340 geospatial environmental management professionals from 75 different countries since 2004. The announcement comes after a competitive selection process. The renewed funding ensures that GEM will continue providing cutting-edge and inclusive education.

Renewed Erasmus+ support allows us to keep doing what GEM does best: bring four European strengths together into one coherent programme, so that students graduate with a double degree, hands‑on experience and a network that spans research, policy and industry. The result is highly employable graduates who can move seamlessly from data to decision—across environment, planning, and sustainability.

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Two decades of excellence

The GEM MSc (Geo-information Science and Earth Observation for Environmental Modelling and Management) launched in 2004 as one of the first geoinformation-focused programmes within the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree framework. The programme was born in the same year when the European Commission launched Erasmus Mundus in 2004 as a cooperation programme for academic excellence, positioning itself as a pioneer in international joint degree education.

GEM’s international consortium has evolved over its 20+ years and is now formed of four institutions: ITC University of Twente (Netherlands) as coordinator, specialising in natural resources management, Lund University (Sweden) focusing on ecosystem science, University of Tartu (Estonia) emphasising socio-ecological systems, and UCLouvain (Belgium) concentrating on agricultural applications.

Lund’s contribution ensures students can turn Earth observation into insight—linking satellite data, ecosystem modelling and emerging GeoAI—so that by the time they reach their second year they are ready to tackle complex questions in natural resources and climate risk.

Starting in Tartu, our students learn to connect geospatial analysis with the realities of cities and regions—planning studios, spatial data science and an early internship. That blend of technical skill and policy awareness prepares them to deliver change, whether they pursue a PhD or move straight into professional roles.

At UCLouvain we give GEM students the tools to monitor land use and agriculture at scale—from crop conditions to land dynamics—so they can advise companies and public agencies on sustainable food systems and land management with evidence that stands up to scrutiny

A large number of Associate Partners from around the world complement the core partners who offer the GEM curriculum. The Associate Partner network provides internships, help students build professional networks, and exposure to real world challenges in industry, research, and policy in environmental management.

Some of the GEM graduates in 2024

Four tracks, two degrees, global impact

GEM's new structure give students the opportunity to complete studies at two different universities across consecutive years, earning double degrees while specialising in one of four tracks. Track 1 (Geospatial Planner) and Track 2 (Geospatial Analyst) begin at the University of Tartu, while Track 3 (Geospatial Developer) and Track 4 (Geospatial Modeller) start at Lund University. Students then complete their second year at either ITC Twente or UCLouvain, depending on their chosen track.

These newly designed tracks, and the competencies that students develop while studying, align with high demand in the job market for digital and green skills in the applied geospatial domain. Employment rates from GEM are over 95%, with graduates quickly finding positions in private companies, academia, government, NGOs, and some even starting their own companies. Around 50% of GEM graduates pursue PhD programmes, mainly in Europe and the US.

GEM – an international consortium

More information about GEM

Interested in GEM? Details on scholarships, application procedures, a downloadable brochure, and the new Study Guide are published on the GEM website (www.gem-msc.eu).

   GEM is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union