The European University of the Seas – known in short as SEA-EU – is a joint initiative between universities and European higher education institutions. This coalition aims to strengthen cooperation and build partnerships between the two sectors, focusing on education, research, innovation, and sustainability issues.
The partnership also promotes cultural exchange and mutual understanding between regions.
The Alliance brings together the University of Cádiz (Spain). Coordinator, Université de Bretagne Occidentale in Brest (France), University of Kiel (Germany), University of Gdańsk (Poland), University of Split (Croatia), University of Malta (Malta, UM), and now joined by Parthenope University of Naples (Italy), Algarve University of Portugal and Nord University of Norway, with their collective thousands of students, academic and administrative staff, research facilities, as well as associated partners, including public entities such as the Msida Local Council. With the University of Malta’s main campus located in its confines, Msida has proudly partnered with UM to participate in this Alliance, promoting research, innovation and sustainability in a range of vital issues which have a bearing on coastal towns such as Msida.
Compared to larger councils in other countries, the local government in Malta has limited governing powers; but the Msida Local Council realises that it can be a significant contributor to a sustainable environment through the promotion of education and research. The partnership with the University of Malta, as part of the SEA-EU Alliance is an excellent opportunity for harbour and coastal towns to engage residents and businesses in contributing to cleaner and sustainable blue spaces that revitalise neighbourhoods and promote social connectedness. This social cohesion is demonstrated in Malta’s case by the Promenade Regeneration Project, which earlier this year saw the inauguration in Msida of a new attractive promenade that improves connections with neighbouring towns, while a planned open space close to the promenade shall give Msida residents a space where to organise and attend social and cultural events.
In March 2022, the Msida Local Council became an associated partner of the SEA-EU Alliance and part of the SEA-EU 2.0 Project, which will run at least until 2026. As an associated partner, the role of the Msida Local Council is to facilitate connections between SEA-EU and society. In December 2022, the Msida Local Council participated in the Stakeholders Conference of the European University of the Seas held in Cadiz, Spain. This conference focused on exploring the capabilities and opportunities of the SEA-EU partnership in the context of the blue economy. This event was an excellent opportunity for Msida to outline Malta’s progress with the Promenade Regeneration Project with a broad international audience, while learning from the experience of other European localities and their own coastal regeneration initiatives. The concept of the European University of the Seas not only gives opportunities for universities, academics and students to collaborate in creating expertise in the blue economy, but also allows collaborating local entities such as local governments to educate residents of their locality in the importance of the blue economy by building bridges between academia and residents.
More information about SEA-EU can be found .
