EUNICoast brings together students and academics from its partner universities for an intensive week of hands-on learning on sustainable tourism, cultural heritage, and community engagement, set against the unique backdrop of the Åland Islands.
About the Programme
Organised by the Åland University of Applied Sciences (Finland) in collaboration with the University of the Azores (Portugal), the University of Sassari (Italy), and the University of Patras (Greece), this programme embodies the EUNICoast spirit: international, interdisciplinary, and deeply rooted in the realities of island and coastal territories.
The course combines online preparatory work with a week of on-site workshops, field visits, lectures, and co-creation with a local stakeholder. Using the Design Thinking Double Diamond framework, participants collaborate in international teams to develop concrete responses to real challenges in island and coastal tourism contexts.
What You Will Learn
Participants will explore the relationship between tourism development and cultural heritage preservation, conduct sustainability audits of tourism operations, and design community-centred solutions in collaboration with local actors. The course fosters intercultural communication, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, and ethical approaches to tourism — core competencies at the heart of the EUNICoast educational model.
Who Can Apply
This programme is open to undergraduate students in tourism, economics, sustainability, sociology of culture, and communication. A minimum B2 level of English is required.
Key Facts
- Dates: 3–8 May 2026
- Location: Åland University of Applied Sciences, Åland Islands, Finland
- Organising institution: Åland University of Applied Sciences
- Partner universities: University of the Azores, University of Sassari, University of Patras
- Credits: 3 ECTS
- Language: English
- Format: Blended (online preparation in April + one-week on-site intensive)
Applications for this edition are now closed. Visit eunicoast.eu to discover upcoming opportunities across the alliance.
