During the last week of June at the Gdansk University, the UM representation attended the most important deliberations of the SEA-EU, the Governing Week. The authorities of the European Universities of the Seas and the representatives of the alliance’s units met at the University of Gdansk to discuss previous actions and plan the future of SEA-EU 2.0.

The Governing Body discussed the double dimension of the SEA-EU in the sense of a project and a long-term alliance of universities. When we refer to the SEA-EU as a project, we think about a funded project based on a four-year cycle proposal, with established tasks and working groups (Technical Working Group, Executive Committee, etc.). However, the SEA-EU alliance is something beyond that. It is the foundation for a long-lasting alliance of universities, supported by the university's highest authorities.

The SEA-EU is a vital and tangible part of UM’s future. In order to strengthen cooperation and maintain the sustainability of the alliance, the University of Malta has decided that all projects submitted under the umbrella of the SEA-EU alliance will be allocated and managed by the Rectorate in collaboration with the newly established UM SEA-EU Office. This is a different approach to funding from the first phase of the alliance and a stepping stone in assuring the long-term vision of this partnership.

The highest institution of the SEA-EU authorities, the Governing Board, was joined by Prof. Alfred J. Vella (Rector of University of Malta), Prof. Frank Bezzina (Pro-Rector for International Development and Quality Assurance), Ms Giulia Bugeja (Representative of KSU). The SEA-EU Executive Committee, body in charge of taking the most important decisions, was attended by Prof. Alan Deidun (Rector's Delegate on the SEA-EU Alliance), Ms Maria Grima Calleja (SEA-EU UM Office Manager and Work Package Leader for Dissemination and Impact) and other UM representatives participated in thematic group meetings. The SEA-EU Quality and Ethics Committee was joined by Dr Leonie Baldacchino and Dr Jacqueline Vanhear (online). Representative of Msida Local Council, Mr Alexander Calleja Zammit (online), participated in the Local Authorities’ session. During the meeting of the reSEArch-EU project Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino (online, Local Project Coordinator ) and Dr Mario Thomas Vassallo were present. UM International Office, represented by Ms Stefania Agius Fabri and Mr Jake Grech (both online), attended the Ukrainian Day session. Members of the UM SEA-EU Office and Project Support Office supported all delegates at the meetings.

You can find more articles and photos from these intense and fruitful sessions on the UG website.