Universities
as places for deep thinking
Common challenges
of our island and coastal regions
Interconnectedness
of our partner universities
The mission of our Alliance
Anchored to the sea in spirit and practice, our European Alliance seeks to awaken an appreciation for the maritime world's significance. For us, the sea is not a physical boundary, but a conduit of shared experiences, economic prosperity, and ecological balance. By instilling a deep-rooted connection to the sea, we empower our students to engage meaningfully with both ports and islands, and the intricate interplay between them.
Partner universities
- University Le Havre Normandie (France): covers the North Sea and the English Channel
- EMUNI University (Slovenia): the Adriatic Sea - part of the Mediterranean Sea basin
- Burgas Free University (Bulgaria): located on the Black Sea coast
- University of Dubrovnik (Croatia): covers the Adriatic Sea basin
- University of Patras (Greece): contributes to the Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea basins
- University of Sassari (Italy): covers the Mediterranean Sea basin
- University of the Azores (Portugal): located in the North Atlantic Ocean
- University of the Balearic Islands (Spain): situated in the Mediterranean Sea
- Stralsund University of Applied Sciences (Germany): located directly on the waterfront of the Baltic sea
- University of the French West Indies (France): the Caribbean Sea
- University of the Faroe Islands (Faroe Islands): adds coverage in the North Atlantic Ocean
- Åland University of Applied Sciences (Finland): located in Åland Islands
- West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin (Poland): located at the Oder floodplain and close to the Baltic Sea
Alliance objectives
Our focus on islands and ports is thus far more than just a symbol. It emphasises the way in which universities are places for deep thinking, thoughtfulness, experimentation and creativity. It underlines the importance of our role in creating meaningful connections and communication between our territories and our communities.
- Help build strong foundations for the next generation of European and global students and citizens who are engaged, aware, and willing to contribute to meeting sustainability challenges.
- Foster a multicultural, multilingual, and inclusive European education, research, and innovation environment which is open to the world.
- Enhance the joint capacity of the partner universities to better respond to the societal and environmental challenges faced by island and coastal communities.
Focus areas
To address these areas, we are going to establish five Teaching and Research Hubs - interdisciplinary teams of academics, researchers, and students from all member universities, working with external stakeholders on relevant challenges and initiatives.
- Identities, Local Knowledge, and Cultural Heritage in Islands & Coastal Communities
- Blue Circular Economy, Port Logistics, and Sustainable Blue Tourism
- Governance, Planning, Management, and Monitoring of Islands and Coastal Communities
- Health, Biodiversity Protection, Nature-based Solutions, and Sustainable Exploration of Coastal/Marine Resources
- Engineered and Data-driven Solutions for Coastal Infrastructures, Marine Renewable Energy, Marine Safety, and Navigation Systems