The EU4Ocean Summer School on Ocean Literacy & Collaboration is a 5-day training programme that brings together Master’s and PhD students and early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs) to strengthen their capacity for transdisciplinary collaboration on ocean-related projects. 

Organized annually by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe in partnership with the European Commission’s DG MARE under the EU4Ocean Coalition project, the Summer School has taken place in different locations across Europe. Each edition explores a specific ocean-related theme through a combination of knowledge exchange, practical learning, collaboration, and engagement with local contexts. 

This 5th edition will take place in Milazzo, Italy, and focuses on Ocean Literacy & Collaboration in the context of Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. It is developed in collaboration with MuMa Museo del Mare Milazzo, under the patronage of the Municipality of Milazzo. The programme will bring together 25 participants from universities and institutions across EU and non-EU countries in the two regions. 

The School responds to IOC priorities by strengthening the capacities of students and early-career professionals to advance ocean literacy and sustainable ocean management. In alignment with the IOC Capacity Development Strategy (2023–2030), the course aims to develop students’ practical skills in science communication, stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and project co-design while fostering regional cooperation and peer learning across the Mediterranean and Black Sea. In addition, by empowering participants to apply ocean literacy approaches within their own institutions and communities, the Summer School contributes to Member States' capacity development needs and supports the implementation of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.” 

Info: https://oceanliteracy.unesco.org/events/eu4ocean-summer-school-on-ocean-literacy-collaboration-for-blue-tourism-in-the-mediterranean-sea-and-black-sea

Location: MuMa Museo del Mare Milazzo (Italy), Milazzo, Italy

Learning outcomes

Through a combination of expert inputs, practical activities, collaborative work, and engagement with local stakeholders, participants of this year's Summer School will: 

• Gain familiarity with the objectives and activities of the EU4Ocean Coalition and the Youth4Ocean Forum and their contribution to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development; 

• Explore how ocean literacy can inform tourism planning, destination management, education, and visitor engagement in Mediterranean and Black Sea coastal areas; 

• Develop practical skills for transdisciplinary collaboration in the design and implementation of ocean-related projects; 

• Learn to integrate diverse knowledge systems, cultural contexts, and local perspectives when working towards a sustainable blue economy; 

• Strengthen science communication skills through storytelling, public engagement, and policy advocacy 

Course content

• Overview of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, UNESCO-IOC and the Ocean Literacy Unit’s work, the EU4Ocean Coalition and the Youth4Ocean Forum;

• Lectures about: sustainable blue tourism in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions; Marine Protected Areas; science communication and public engagement; stakeholder engagement and participatory approaches; project design, development and monitoring;

• Field activities: guided visit to the Capo Milazzo Marine Protected Area; biodiversity and ecosystem observation; hands-on activities at MuMa – Museo del Mare Milazzo; stakeholder engagement with local practitioners and community representatives;

• Soft skills development through hands-on activities and exercises: empathy and multicultural collaboration; scientific storytelling and public speaking; teamwork, creativity and co-creation; pitching ideas for sustainable blue tourism initiatives.

Target audience: Early Career Ocean Professionals, master and PhD students with mixed and interdisciplinary backgrounds.

Language: English

Instructors:

• Francesca Santoro (UNESCO-IOC)

• Ottavia Carlon (UNESCO-IOC)

• Carmelo Isgrò (MuMa – Museo del Mare Milazzo)

• Carolyn Berger (MuMa – Museo del Mare Milazzo)

• Angelo Sciacca (Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations – IDDRI)

• Ernesto Rollando (Freelance Consultant)

• Elissa Phillips (Incredible Oceans)

• Virginia Di Marco (Assicurazioni Generali)

• Natasa Vaidianu (Ovidius University of Constanța)

• Giovanni Mangano (Capo Milazzo Marine Protected Area)

• Teresa Romeo (Sicily Marine Centre – Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn)

• Claudio Berti (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn)

Organizers

UNESCO-IOC, Ocean Literacy team, based at the Venice Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Venice in collaboration with the OceanTeacher Global Academy, the European Commission - DG MARE, MuMa Museo del Mare Milazzo. Municipality of Milazzo.

Course duration and format

Blended course, with a total of 49 hours of training time (11 online studies and 36 of in-person activities).

Certificate and Learner Assessment

The certificate will be issued after the completion and fully attendance of the activities planned online and onsite, including successfully completing the work group presentation.

Pre-requisites and requirements

B2 level of English

Application process

The application process was coordinated by the organizers, with 25 available seats. Participants have been selected according to the following criteria:

• Gender balance

• Geographical representation

• Age range: up to 35 years old

• Background: all the sectors are encouraged to apply. We will pay attention to create an interdisciplinary group.

• Priority will be given to youth from the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea, as well as members of the Y4O Forum and ECOPs

UNESCO is committed to promote equal access principles. Applications from minority or underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.Costs

This training has no tuition fees.Financial support is available to facilitate participation in the Summer School. Five travel grants are awarded to participants who demonstrate financial need in their applications and interviews. Accommodation for the full duration of the Summer School is provided to all participants, together with coffee breaks, lunches, and one social dinner.

Feedback survey

At the end of the course, you will be asked to fill out a feedback survey. This information will be used to improve future courses.

Contacts

For any questions, please contact OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@unesco.org) or Ottavia Carlon (o.carlon@unesco.org) always using the name of the course as e-mail subject.

Cancellation policy

In the event of cancellation of the course by the OTGA or its affiliates, we will provide notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date. In the event of cancellation by the attendee, we should receive notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date.