The Rectors of the universities forming the SEA-EU Alliance have gathered in Split for a two-day meeting held on Monday and Tuesday, reaffirming their shared commitment to shaping the next phase of the alliance’s development.
The meeting started with the “Science Comes to Town” Opening Ceremony at Hrvatski dom Split, highlighting the importance of bringing science, research and universities closer to society. This public-facing event set the tone for two days of strategic discussion focused on consolidation, future growth and long-term sustainability. Science Comes to Town is a European initiative designed to bring science closer to citizens by transforming cities into open, accessible spaces for research, innovation and public engagement. Through a strong collaboration between universities, local authorities and regional stakeholders, the programme promotes year-long, city-wide scientific activities that connect academia with society, foster curiosity and participation, and reinforce the social responsibility of research and innovation. Within this framework, the joint UNITES project, supported by the SEA-EU Alliance, positions Kiel, Brest and Split as interconnected hubs of science in 2026, building on the legacy of the European City of Science and aligning with the goals of the European Research Area and the Pact for Research and Innovation.
From late morning onwards, the Rectors’ meeting addressed a comprehensive agenda centred on SEA-EU Next, the alliance’s forward-looking phase. Discussions focused on defining the next steps of the initiative and refining its mission statement, ensuring a clear and shared vision for the years ahead. A key point of the meeting was the status update of the joint PhD programme in Marine and Maritime Sciences and Technologies, including progress made so far and the next milestones to be achieved. The Rectors also discussed the future funding structure for upcoming cohorts of the alliance’s Joint Programmes, SeaBluE, STORM and MIPMAL, underlining their strategic importance for transforming European higher education.
Governance and sustainability were also central to the discussions. The Rectors reviewed the legal status of the SEA-EU Association, including the proposed Association fee for 2026, and explored the development of a communication plan aimed at strengthening impact of the current joint prgrammes.
By bringing together academic leadership in Split, this meeting marked an important step in aligning strategic priorities, reinforcing trust among partners and ensuring that SEA-EU continues to evolve from a successful initiative into a mature, sustainable and impactful European University alliance. The discussions and decisions taken over these two days further demonstrate SEA-EU’s collective ambition to lead innovation in education, research and societal engagement across Europe, with confidence, clarity and a strong shared direction.
