UAlg delegation participates in SEA-EU Governance week at the University of Gdansk

UAlg was represented by Rector Paulo Águas; Alexandra Teodósio, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation and Sustainable Development; Ana de Freitas (online), Vice-Rector for Quality, Planning and Training; Patrícia Pinto, Pro-Rector for the Alliance of European Universities of the Sea; Marleni Azevedo, coordinator of the International Relations and Mobility Office; João Vidal, lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, Vânia Serrão Sousa (online), researcher at the Centre for Research on Environment and Sustainability; and Fábio Zacarias, president of the Academic Association.

On 28 June, members of the Executive Committee of the nine European Universities of the Seas discussed the future of the alliance. A final report of SEA-EU 1.0 and the results of previous actions were presented, as well as action plans for the coming years, including the establishment of closer and more functional relationships between businesses and higher education institutions. Several side meetings were also held, with sustainability emerging as a central topic of discussion.

The Student Council, an integral part of the SEA-EU alliance, also met, allowing students to present their initiatives and future plans during the Governing Board session.

On 29 June, it was the turn of the rectors of the European Universities of the Seas and the representatives of the alliance units to meet to discuss the actions implemented previously and to plan the future of SEA-EU 2.0. During the meeting, the new visual identity of the alliance was presented, a symbol representing flexibility, innovation, inclusiveness, unity and a shared vision among SEA-EU partners. The report of the Council of Ports and Cities and the summary of the EDLab project on the opening of a joint university course were also presented. The meeting was finalised with the presentation of the extraterritorial strategy to achieve the global sustainability objectives, with the nomination of the Alliance's external partners, considered strategic for the SEA-EU mission, on other continents in coastal areas of the Single Ocean.

These external partners, as well as all full and associate members, will meet at the University of Algarve in January 2024, at the SEA-EU congress, where a Global Declaration of Commitment on the respective theme will be signed.

Ending the week on 30 June, the University of Gdańsk Marine Station was presented to the SEA-EU governing board participants by the Rector of the University of Gdańsk. The Oceanograf vessel was used for the tour and for the visit to the Hel grey seal sanctuary, and a huge potential for UAlg's teaching and research collaboration with these structures within the framework of the European University of the Seas was highlighted.

In conclusion, the EEAS-EU Government Week, organised by the University of Gdansk, proved to be a success. It brought together leaders, researchers and students from different nationalities, fostering collaboration and innovation across the Alliance. In addition to these meetings, participants had the opportunity to immerse themselves in various cultural and artistic experiences. The week was a success that promises to be an asset for future SEA-EU Alliance projects.