EU4Ocean Summer School on Ocean Literacy & Collaboration for Blue Tourism in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea

The EU4Ocean Summer School on Ocean Literacy & Collaboration is a training programme tailored to early-career ocean professionals and students, organized by UNESCO within the framework of its collaboration with the European Commission’s DG MARE, under the European Ocean Coalition (EU4Ocean) project.

After the previous four editions held in Italy, Sweden, and Portugal, the EU4Ocean Summer School on Ocean Literacy & Collaboration returns for its 5th edition, landing in Sicily to take place in Milazzo from 14 to 18 September 2026.

This edition of the Summer School will focus on Sustainable Tourism in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and is developed by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe in collaboration with the European Commission – DG MARE and MuMa Museo del Mare Milazzo, with the patronage of the Municipality of Milazzo.

Over the course of the intensive five days, 25 students and early-career professionals from EU and non-EU countries of the Mediterranean and Black Seas region will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of ocean literacy, sustainability, and sustainable tourism through ad hoc events, expert talks, fieldwork visits, and project activities.

The Summer School contributes to the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) by equipping and empowering participants to contribute to a cultural shift in ocean-related sectors, promoting transdisciplinarity, equity, inclusion, diverse knowledge systems, and regional cooperation in the context of sustainable blue tourism.