Exploring regional differences in students’ sense of place across the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Abstract The sense of place (SOP) concept has considerable potential in geography education and is recognized as an effective tool for developing sustainability competencies. This article aims to address the following research questions: 1) To what extent do Czech and Slovak students identify with their region, and which factors are associated with this identity? 2) Which types of places do students feel the most connected to, and what are the reasons for this connection? We employed both qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection and analysis. An online questionnaire with both open- and closed-ended questions was distributed to all lower secondary schools in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The questionnaire was completed by 8,653 students from these schools. Responses were analyzed using both statistical and content analysis. The results indicate that students’ identity with their region decreases with age, that boys exhibit a stronger identity than girls, and that significant differences exist in students’ identity across different regions. Students’ preferred places most often fall within the categories of home, city, and natural environment. The reasons for students’ SOP are multidimensional. Research into students’ SOP may contribute to more effective integration of the concept into education, thereby fostering the development of sustainability competencies.