Blue Schools Global Network

What is a Blue School?

Blue Schools are schools that connect learning with the ocean. Through hands-on, cross-subject projects, students explore ocean-related topics while working with their communities. Blue Schools promote ocean literacy, active citizenship, and real-world learning, helping students become more aware, responsible, and engaged in building a sustainable future.

Origins

The Blue Schools initiative originated in the mid-2010s through discussions at EMSEA conferences and SeaChange project groups. Recognizing a gap in existing environmental education programs, a vision of a structured, long-term educational approach to introduce ocean literacy into schools emerged.

The first national Blue School program was launched in Portugal in 2017, building a structured national  framework for ocean literacy and promoting interdisciplinary projects, with the support of the Ministry of the Sea and the Ministry of Education. The program has become a global model for the structured implementation of ocean literacy in formal education, attracting international recognition from UNESCO-IOC.

Expansion

Building on Portugal's success, the Network of European Blue Schools was established in 2019, funded by the European Commission. This network has empowered educators and students as agents of ocean sustainability, promoted collaborative networks, and institutionalized ocean literacy projects across Europe.

In 2020, the concept expanded further with the All-Atlantic Blue Schools Network, led by Brazil and supported by Argentina and Portugal. The All-Atlantic network emphasizes transatlantic cooperation, cultural diversity, and school-driven ocean literacy projects. By 2023, this network connected 16 countries across the Atlantic region, demonstrating the scalability and adaptability of the Blue Schools model internationally.

Recognizing these successes, UNESCO-IOC formally launched the Blue Schools Global Network in 2024, creating an inclusive platform for worldwide participation.

Objectives and Vision

The Blue Schools Global Network aims to:

• Provide schools with structured, interdisciplinary frameworks for the implementation of ocean literacy into their curricula.
  
  
  

• Foster active citizenship among students, empowering them with the knowledge and tools they need to address ocean sustainability issues.
  
  
  

• Create robust partnerships among educators, communities, policymakers, NGOs, researchers and ocean professionals.
  
  
  

• Facilitate international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and resource sharing in diverse cultural and educational contexts.

Driven by principles of equality, diversity, and cultural respect, the network ensures that children everywhere can become stewards of the ocean.

Criteria for Becoming a Blue School

To qualify as a Blue School, schools must:

1. Explore a significant, locally-relevant ocean issue.
   
   
   

2. Adopt an interdisciplinary educational approach.
   
   
   

3. Engage students from multiple classes or age groups.
   
   
   

4. Inspire active citizenship through practical action.
   
   
   

5. Involve the local community.

Optional criteria for enhanced engagement include interaction with maritime professionals, participation in outdoor education activities, exploring intangible heritage practices, and the promotion of student ambassadors.

Becoming a Blue School

Schools interested in joining the Blue Schools Global Network must follow these steps:

• Develop a Thematic Project: design a meaningful ocean-themed project that connects different school subjects and addresses real issues in the local community.
  
  
  

• Submit Application: Complete and submit an application form to their national coordination body, or, where no national coordination body is present, to contact the global governance board for Blue Schools.
  
  
  

• Receive Certification: Projects meeting the established criteria receive Blue School certification. If criteria are not met, schools receive constructive feedback to improve their proposals.
  
  
  

• Celebrate and Share: Certified schools communicate their achievements internally and externally, connecting with the broader network.

Certifications typically last 1-2 years, with renewal opportunities facilitated through ongoing support and engagement.

Join the Movement

Join a global wave of change. The Blue Schools Global Network unites educators, students, and partners to protect the ocean through education and action.