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Icon Universities

Universities

as places for deep thinking
Icon Common challenges

Common challenges

of our island and coastal regions
Icon Interconnectedness

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
University Le Havre Normandie (France): covers the North Sea and the English Channel
University Emuni
EMUNI University (Slovenia): the Adriatic Sea - part of the Mediterranean Sea basin
Burgas Free University
Burgas Free University (Bulgaria): located on the Black Sea coast
University of Dubrovnik
University of Dubrovnik (Croatia): covers the Adriatic Sea basin
University Patras
University of Patras (Greece): contributes to the Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea basins
University Sassari
University of Sassari (Italy): covers the Mediterranean Sea basin
University Asores
University of the Azores (Portugal): located in the North Atlantic Ocean
university Balears
University of the Balearic Islands (Spain): situated in the Mediterranean Sea
Hochschule Stralsund
Stralsund University of Applied Sciences (Germany): located directly on the waterfront of the Baltic sea
University Antilles
University of the French West Indies (France): the Caribbean Sea
University of thr Faroe Islands
University of the Faroe Islands (Faroe Islands): adds coverage in the North Atlantic Ocean
Aland University of Applied Sciences
Åland University of Applied Sciences (Finland): located in Åland Islands
West Pomeranian University of Technology
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