European University of the Seas (SEA-EU)

SEA-EU is a European university alliance that aims to strengthen cooperation in education and research across national borders in Europe. Motto: «Living sustainably, by, from and with the sea».

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SEA-EU ​was started in 2019 with six European universities. In 2022, ​three new universities, including Nord University, joined the alliance​.​

The partners in the alliance are from Malta in the south to Nordland in the north​:​​

  • Nord University
  • University of Gdansk (Poland)
  • Kiel University (Germany)
  • University of Western Brittany (Brest - France)
  • University of Split (Croatia)​
  • Parthenope University of Naples (Italy)​​​
  • University of Algarve (Portugal)
  • University of Cádiz (Spain) - coordinator
  • University of Malta​

Together, the alliance partners have more than 150,000 students and 18,000 employees who will benefit from the objectives that the alliance has set itself.

The SEA-EU alliance aims to:

  • strengthen the field of coastal research and education
  • promote other key areas of collaboration such as
    • internationalisation,
    • sustainability,
    • digital transformation,
    • transparency and democracy.

The aim is to become an international role model for interaction within the EU and increasing research activity. ​

  • For Nord University the SEA-EU alliance is  a unique opportunity  to further develop the university, and to make Nord University a more visible and recognized international  university. 

  • As a student of Nord University you are part of SEA-EU.

    In SEA-EU we are among others promoting inclusive, digital and green, interdisciplinary and innovative learning pathways. You can benefit from all the activities, fundings, resources and courses that SEA-EU is offering, read more here.

    You are encouraged to apply for Erasmus+ grants to go on exchange to our partners in the alliance, read how to here. 

  • The goal is to create a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and interdisciplinary “inter-university" European University Campus. SEA-EU aims to strengthen knowledge transfer and promote social and environmental responsibility. 

    You are encouraged to establish collaboration with relevant  partners within research, innovation, education and other areas that contribute to development for the university and the work-packages in the SEA-EU alliance. 

    There are two types of internal funding for Nord University's employees through the SEA-EU alliance, travel funds (continuous submission) and seed funds (specific call twice a year – next deadline March 15th 2023). 

    You are also encouraged to apply for Erasmus+ grants to go on exchange to our partners in the alliance, read how to here.

  • As its partners, Nord University will collaborate with relevant stakeholders that will benefit from the alliance. This is in line with our goal to connect the university to the local communities and businesses. 

    Stakeholders can take part in activities within the alliance and apply for funding together with the partners in the alliance. In addition, they can receive students and act as research partners. 

    The SEA-EU alliance has in total 75 associated partners, including research centres, businesses, cities and province authorities, public entities, NGOs and non-profit organizations, international clusters of excellence and ports. 

    The associated partners of Nord University are:

  • The alliance works ​according to six Work Packages (WPs). Each of the partners in the alliance ​is responsible for at least one WP. In addition, ​the partners contribute to all the WPs for the alliance to achieve its common goals.​

    WP1 – Governance and management

    • ​Align the short and long term objectives of the European University of the Seas and lead the design of the strategy to achieve legal personality. 
    • ​To carry out appropriate monitoring and reporting. 
    • Ensure quality assurance, ethic​​s and data protection. 
    • Align and broaden the SEA-EU 2.0 agenda for educational, research and socio-economic engagement. 

    WP2 – Education and training​

    • ​​Facilitate and increase the level of physical mobility.
    • Promote inclusive, digital and green, interdisciplinary and innovative learning pathways.
    • Enhance personalised curricula and credit pathways: development of micro- credentials with the SEA-EU quality label.
    • Increase the offer of SEA-EU joint programmes.
    • Consolidate SEA-EU as a diversified learning centre for lifelong learning.
    • Develop a coherent legal framework, including automatic academic recognition of degrees.​

    WP3 – Research and Innovation

    • ​Generate European added value through research collaborations at Master's level.
    • Enhance the career prospects of early stage researchers within and outside academia.
    • Strengthen the common SEA-EU research framework by facilitating and increasing access to joint resources and infrastructures.

    WP4 – European Campus Life​

    • ​Promote Equity at the European Campus.
    • Increase student participation through the Alliance.
    • Digitalise SEA-EU.
    • Make SEA-EU greener.
    • Embrace European values as the hallmark of the SEA-EU.
    • Promote multilingualism, foster language competence in English and establish a common SEA-EU language policy.

    WP5 – Bridging the gap with society

    • ​SEA-EU Building Bridges Initiative: Stronger Partnerships for Common Global Goals.
    • Innovate in the regional understanding of what it means to be SEA-EU.
    • Transform the SEA-EU Service-Learning Centre into the SEA-EU Society Hub.​

    WP6 – Dissemination and Impact

    • ​​​​Build a coherent, memorable and engaging identity, communication and impact strategy.
    • Manage and implement a robust, transparent and effective communication and impact strategy.
    • Implement common values and quality standards for science communication.

About​ SEA-EU

  • ​The SEA-EU alliance consists of nine universities that are all connected to the sea.

  • The common denominator for all the universities in the alliance is the sea and their high level of expertise in ​​marine and maritime disciplines​. Nord University's connection to the High North is important for the university's place​​ in the alliance.

  • The alliance will strengthen research and education in coastal areas, and promote key areas of cooperation such as internationalisation, sustainability, digital transformation, openness and democracy.

  • The activities of the alliance are not limited to research and teaching. For example, the alliance seeks to meet a European standard for a "healthy campus", setting a standard for how the universities will facilitate health-promoting measures in physical activity, nutrition and mental health. The alliance also promotes inclusion, diversity and gender equality.

Contact persons:
Tove Holm
Levi Gårseth-Nesbakk