The uBlueTec project is tackling the urgent need for skilled professionals in the European Blue Economy by launching a groundbreaking series of courses. These innovative programs are designed to equip students and experts with the green, blue, and digital competencies essential for driving sustainable practices and ensuring a carbon-neutral future across critical maritime and underwater technologies sectors.
19 September 2024 – To strengthen the European Blue Economy, the uBlueTec project has unveiled a series of pilot courses targeting skill gaps in maritime and underwater technologies. 29 online and in-person courses are expected to be integrated by 2026, with contributions from partners across France, Greece, Croatia, Romania, Italy, and Portugal. These courses are tailored to empower students and professionals with the expertise required to lead sustainable, technology-driven economic activities in the marine sector, aligning with Europe’s goals for a greener, more resilient economy.
The Blue Economy faces pressing challenges due to the evolving demands of sustainability and digitalization inside the European Union. The current educational landscape reveals significant gaps in providing a broader range of lifelong learning skills necessary for the effective use of underwater technologies, which are integral to key sectors such as offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, marine biodiversity protection, and underwater cultural heritage. To bridge these gaps, uBlueTec project has developed a comprehensive triple transition training model that integrates green, blue, and digital skills.
Introducing New Pilot Courses
A key component of uBlueTec’s approach is introducing a series of innovative pilot courses designed specifically to meet the needs of the Blue Economy. These pilot courses aim to develop learning curricula that deeply engage with themes such as digital skills, blue skills and broader green skills focusing on environmental sustainability and climate change, leadership, environmental awareness, empowerment, and education for active citizenship. They also focus on fostering creativity and affective citizenship related to environmental issues, promoting autonomy and critical thinking, while encouraging an emotional connection to the ocean. Once tested, these pilot courses will be refined based on feedback and insights gained during implementation. They can be delivered in their entirety or divided into modules, allowing for flexibility. They can also be integrated into other curricula being developed within the uBlueTec project or into existing programs that would benefit from the addition of modules connecting to green, blue, and digital skills. Among the many innovative pilot courses that have been developed, indicative examples are:
- In the field of underwater technologies, courses like Introduction to Maritime Archaeology and Coastal Geoarchaeology and Impacts of Climate Change in Maritime and Coastal Archaeology provide essential knowledge on preserving cultural heritage in changing environments. Additionally, the Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV) Pilot Course and Underwater Photogrammetric Recording of Submerged Landscapes equip participants with practical skills for underwater exploration.
- In the green skills category, the Green Skills for Underwater Technologies (MOOC), the introduction to Marine Citizen Science, and the Analytical Techniques for Environmental Sustainability courses promote sustainable practices and focus on methodologies that enhance ecological awareness and citizen involvement.
- In the area of digital skills, the course on Digital technologies for underwater cultural heritage surveying and the Using Vendor-Neutral Software Framework for Mission Planning and Simulation of Cooperative Autonomous Marine Vehicles provide participants with essential skills for leveraging technology in underwater and marine contexts.
A total of at least 29 courses will be delivered through a variety of modalities, including lectures, seminars, and practical demonstrations, as well as field training and laboratory sessions, combining online learning and e-learning formats, such as MOOCs, to create a comprehensive educational approach tailored to diverse learning styles and environments.
A Collaborative Vision for Blue Economy Training
uBlueTec project is coordinated by Aix-Marseille University (France), bringing academic expertise to the forefront. Partnering in this endeavor are Atlantis Consulting SA (Greece), University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (Croatia), BEIA Consult International Srl (Romania), Università della Calabria (Italy), ANP in association with WWF (Portugal), and Maritime Technology Cluster (Italy). The project co-funded by the European Union under the EMFAF program (European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund) is set to embark on a transformative journey spanning 30 months, from September 2023 to February 2026, with a budget of 1.2 million euros.
For those interested in the courses or seeking more information, please contact us at info@ubluetec.eu