Blue Growth Summer School
(
Academic institution
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#OceanAction41645
Description
Oceans and seas are identified as the key drivers for European economic development and, as a result, have the potential to deliver new jobs in the coming years. The European Commission is a strong believer and promoter of innovation and sustainable growth based on marine and maritime opportunities.
To exploit the full potential of Blue Growth opportunities multidisciplinar training of graduates across engineering and marine and maritime sciences is essential. It is in this context that the Rome Declaration (adopted at the EurOCEAN 2014) calls for innovation in the provision of marine and maritime graduate training to enhance the skill set of students, to diversify possible career pathways but also to widen their comprehension and appreciation of fundamental marine ecosystem functioning.
Across existing and emerging Blue sectors, fundamental science combined with technical background is essential and should be combined with business development teachings focussing on commercialisation of research results based on direct insights from the industry both multinationals and SMEs.
The annual course fits the challenges mentioned above as it provides holistic training for international Master and PhD students in several blue growth domains while laying out the cross disciplinary links. The first edition took place in 2016 and following-up the success, Ghent University is organizing a second edition in 2017.
Methodology/programme
The programme consists of a maritime and a marine module.
The maritime module covers topics such as blue energy, coastal engineering, building with nature. The marine module covers marine ecosystems and their societal benefits, aquaculture and marine spatial planning.
Students are allowed to attend a single module however attending the entire programme allows a submersion in the cross-disciplinary philosophy of Blue Growth.
In every module lectures explicitly cross over: e.g. the maritime module includes lectures on environmental impact while in the marine module, lectures and an interactive session are provided on the topic of offshore multi-use platforms looking beyond mere biotic and abiotic monitoring and experiments seeking innovative ways to integrate marine and maritime functionalities and applications e.g. blue energy.
The initiative received funding from the Flemish Government (Flanders Knowledge Area).
DEME (multinational, private sector) also provides several guest lectures.
SDGS & Targets
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
SDG 14 targets covered
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| 14.a | Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries |
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Contact Information
Noemie Wouters, Dr.