Rectors and Vice-Rectors from all six SEA-EU Universities - Cadiz, Brest, Kiel, Gdańsk, Split and Malta met at the invitation of the University of Malta in Valletta.
After many months of deliberations and online-only meetings, the SEA-EU Programme Governing Board was able to meet in person. At the meeting in the capital of Malta Valletta on June 25th, the University of Gdańsk was represented by the Rector prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski, and the Vice-Rectors prof. dr hab. Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler prof. UG and dr hab. Arnold Kłonczyński prof. UG, involved in the student mobility programme and the creation of joint study courses within the SEA-EU partnership. The meeting was also remotely attended by the Vice-Rector prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Bielawski, who presented a report on priorities and challenges in the area of WP2 objective - SEA-EU research integration in which UG is a leader.
The opening ceremony of the Governing Board took place in the presence of the Ministers of Education and Development and Innovation of Malta, the Rector of the University of Malta and the former EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Mr Carmelo Vella, now Vice-Chancellor of the UM. The former EU Commissioner's speech was a particularly important voice identifying the challenges facing Europe's coastal universities in terms of the blue economy, sustainable maritime economy, and active protection of marine resources. Karmelu Vella sees our consortium as an opportunity to open up many innovative areas for cooperation between SEA EU universities in research and education on these issues. He also assured that, from the European Commission's point of view, any initiative under the European University Programme to engage with major economic and environmental challenges by academic institutions will be able to count on significant financial and organisational support.
The working meeting discussed key achievements and progress in the establishment and operation of the European University and developed key elements of a strategy for the future, also in terms of the European Commission's expected expansion of existing partnerships.
Prof. Fidel Echevarria, the SEA-EU Coordinator, outlined the prospects for the next competition, which will again identify the best partnerships and provide funding for the next 6 years. Currently, 284 universities (5% of all European universities) take part in the programme. The European Commission wants to double this number in the next edition, mainly by increasing the share of partners in individual consortia (up to 9 partners per partnership). The project coordinator proposed starting intensive preparations for the new competition with new areas of even closer cooperation and with the participation of new partners (probably from Norway, Italy and Bulgaria).
- 'What resounds from the summaries of each of the 6 packages of our programme is the need to significantly increase the mobility (in traditional and hybrid forms) of academic teachers between partner universities. I am convinced that our partnership is already sufficiently well prepared organisationally to launch thematic academic seminars in specific research areas. I propose the adoption of an additional agenda by the rectors of our universities defining the schedule and principles of organisation of such meetings,' - emphasised the Rector of UG, prof. Piotr Stepnowski during the discussion.
An important element of the meeting was also the presentation of two more joint projects implemented within the SEA-EU alliance: reSEArch-EU and SEA-EU DOC in which UG is also significantly involved.