On June 9, the European University of the Seas (SEA-EU) made a powerful contribution to the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference by hosting a virtual side event titled “Bridging Sustainability to the Global Coastal Areas of Our Only Ocean”. Organized by the University of Algarve, the event brought together stakeholders from academia, civil society, and global partner institutions to exchange best practices, foster cooperation, and reaffirm their commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
The session opened with remarks by Antonio Garofalo, Rector of the University of Naples Parthenope and President of the Alliance. Marcela Iglesias, SEA-EU General Coordinator (University of Cádiz), provided an overview of the alliance’s evolution and mission. This was followed by a presentation on joint academic programmes by Fernando Pérez (Director for European Projects at UCA), and a discussion on the SEA-EU Observatories featuring Ángeles Jiménez (UCA) and Merica Slišković (UNIST).
A highlight of the event was the Future Leadership Forum (FLF), where young researchers from all nine SEA-EU universities and ten global partners presented their institutional efforts toward achieving ocean-related SDGs. Representing the University of Cádiz, Beatriz Gasalla showcased UCA’s progress in embedding sustainability and democratic values into its academic and research practices.
The event concluded with the presentation of the SEA-EU Voluntary Ocean Commitment, reinforcing the alliance’s long-term dedication to sustainability, innovation, and inclusive global partnerships. Through its strong presence at the UN Conference, SEA-EU once again positioned itself as a model for international academic cooperation addressing the most urgent challenges of our time.
