The SEA-EU European University Alliance has received the overall ‘Winner of Winners’ recognition at the Atlantic–WestMED Project Awards 2026, held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria during the first Joint Atlantic–WestMED Stakeholder Conference.
SEA-EU first won the Blue Skills and Ocean Literacy category before going on to receive the highest recognition of the Awards, selected through a live audience vote among the winners of the four categories. The Alliance was represented in the final by Prof. Alan Deidun, Rector’s Delegate for SEA-EU at the University of Malta, who presented SEA-EU’s achievements, impact and contribution to blue skills and ocean literacy.
The award represents an important recognition of an area deeply rooted in SEA-EU’s identity. Bringing together nine coastal universities across Europe, the Alliance has worked since its creation to strengthen the connection between higher education and the sea through joint educational opportunities, mobility, research collaboration, ocean literacy initiatives and cooperation with maritime and coastal stakeholders. The Atlantic–WestMED Project Awards recognise innovative, sustainable and impactful initiatives contributing to the blue economy. The 2026 edition featured four categories: Blue Skills and Ocean Literacy; Maritime Spatial Planning; Biodiversity, Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coasts; and Shipping, Green Ports and Energy Transition. After the category winners presented their projects to participants, a live vote determined the overall ‘Winner of Winners’, with SEA-EU receiving the final recognition.
The award highlights the collective work of the entire SEA-EU community and reinforces the Alliance’s commitment to building a more connected, sustainable and ocean-literate Europe through cooperation between its coastal universities.
