EUNICoast

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.

EUNICoast 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