The official closing of the Blue Route Project took place at Norway's Arctic University

The University of Algarve coordinated the Blue Route project between 2021 and 2023 "Preparing the New Ocean Economy – the Blue Route of Discoveries” (PT-INNOVATION-0072 Call 5: Education Blue growth EEA GRANT-DGPM). UAlg had a crucial partner in the project, the University of Tromso (Arctic University of Norway), along with other national institutions, including the Centro de Ciência Viva de Lagos, the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, S2AQUA Collaborative Laboratory, companies such as OLSPS international (Fisheries Management Solutions) and MarTrain (Marine Safety), as well as associated universities outside of Europe, including the Federal University of Pernambuco-Brazil, Agostinho Neto University, Namibe University-Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe University, Eduardo Mondlane University-Mozambique, Ruhuna University-Sri Lanka, and Nagasaki University-Japan.

The Blue Route project introduced an innovative way to support blue growth through an advanced training platform linked to Moodle UAlg (Electronic Tutoring) with open access. The training combined prior online courses with intensive in-person workshops (residential modules). The course content was developed based on gap analysis responses, identifying the needs of companies and institutions interested in highly qualified human resources in blue growth. The project produced open, innovative online training in Small Private Online Courses (SPOC) format. Each student selected a predefined number of modules based on their profile and interests. It was primarily designed for master's and doctoral students in marine sciences and blue economy.

The project included the production of 10 online modules, covering topics such as Entrepreneurship, Blue economy, Sustainable Fisheries (I-Introduction to Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management and Advice, II-Marine Protected areas and III-Marine  Ecosystem Services), GIS applications in Marine Science, Exploring Online Ocean Data and Resources, Science Communication  Traceability of Marine Resources,  Simulated Virtual Internship – Centro Ciência Viva Lagos (access as guest). There were 120 participants from diverse nationalities (Mozambique, Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sri Lanka, Iran, Pakistan, Germany, and Portugal). The company OLSPS was involved in teaching online sustainable fishery courses. MarTrain offered a hybrid marine safety course with approximately 50 participants, most of them remote attendees from the University of Namibe. The residential module- Ocean School, held in Tromsø, Norway, from October 6-15, involved Ph.D. students from Portugal and Norway. It included a scientific cruise on UiT's research vessel Helmer Hanssen, demonstrating sustainable fishing technologies for pelagic and demersal species like cod and visits to intensive salmon aquaculture and biotechnology companies utilizing marine-derived products. The module covered various practical classes, from ocean governance to robotics in marine resource exploration.

At the Blue Route closing event on October 13, in addition to the UAlg coordination team, attendees included members from the host University UiT Tromsø, Centro de Ciência de Lagos, and OLSPS international (Fisheries Management Solutions). Other partners participated online, including the Director of Programs and Financing Services of the Directorate-General for Maritime Policy- DGPM -EEAGRANT. During this meeting, a comprehensive evaluation of the project, the hybrid teaching model tested successfully within this project, and its sustainability, which opened opportunities for another field of knowledge. The online modules produced will remain openly accessible in the coming years within Europe and developing countries, contributing to the advanced training in various areas of the Global Ocean Economy and the Sustainable Development of coastal areas.