The SEA-EU Alliance has completed one of the most decisive Governing Weeks since its foundation, bringing together representatives from the nine partner universities in Naples for a programme of high-level meetings, strategic debates and coordinated actions that will define the next phase of the European University of the Seas. Hosted by the University of Naples Parthenope, the event reaffirmed the Alliance’s commitment to building a strong, long-term European Coastal Campus and culminated in a historic moment: the official signing of the SEA-EU Association, the new legal entity that will guarantee stability, continuity and governance capacity for years to come.
Throughout the week, the Alliance’s main councils and committees worked in parallel, ensuring a comprehensive vision of SEA-EU development. From the Vice-Rectors Committee to the Deans Council, and from the Technical Working Group to the Quality & Ethics Committee, every body contributed to shaping shared priorities. The discussions ranged from the consolidation of Joint Programmes to the harmonisation of mobility schemes, the strengthening of the Joint Research Office and the definition of strategic actions for the future SEA-EU phase. As the European Commission has requested a two-year extension, these meetings also allowed the Alliance to align goals and set the basis for the upcoming proposal.
At the same time, the Students Council held several working sessions addressing new initiatives, subgroup coordination and planning for the next governance cycle, and concluded the week with the formal signature of its updated Bylaws, reinforcing the central role of student representation in the Alliance. Parallel to this, the Cities Council and the Ports Council advanced cooperation with municipalities, port authorities and regional partners, emphasising the added value of linking universities with local ecosystems of innovation, sustainability and maritime development.
One of the key turning points came during the Rectors Council, where university leaders finalised the framework that paved the way for the creation of the new SEA-EU Association. Their conclusions fed directly into the Governing Board, where the new legal entity officially signed. This legal structure not only strengthens SEA-EU’s operational capacity but also enhances its ability to coordinate joint initiatives, secure sustainable governance and project a unified European presence. As the week progressed, the Alliance also addressed broader priorities such as wellbeing and campus life, recognition of academic and administrative engagement, the expansion of scientific cooperation and the visibility of SEA-EU across Europe.
The Governing Week concluded with the official Closing Ceremony, followed by a SEA-EU Concert in Villa Doria d’Angri where students and staff from member universities performed together, celebrating the cultural dimension of the Alliance and symbolising the sense of community that defines the European Coastal Campus.
With the establishment of the SEA-EU Association, the Alliance takes a decisive step towards a more structured and sustainable future. This new legal foundation strengthens its capacity to expand joint programmes, foster research cooperation, enhance mobility opportunities and consolidate a truly integrated maritime multicampus that connects more than 150,000 students and 18,000 staff across Europe. The next Governing Week will take place in Brest in June 2026, continuing the trajectory of growth and collaboration that SEA-EU has built since 2019.
