The ocean connects communities, economies and cultures across borders. For island and coastal communities in particular, the sea is closely linked to everyday life, employment, food, transport, tourism and the environment. Yet many young people remain unfamiliar with the wide range of professional opportunities in the maritime and marine sectors. The Erasmus+ Blue Ocean project was established to help address this gap by bringing schools and educational organisations from Europe and the Pacific together around a common goal: developing a stronger Blue Education Area and preparing young people for the blue careers of the future.
Coordinated by Gozo College in Malta, Blue Ocean brings together five partner organisations: Gozo College; Lycée Diadème – Te Tara O Mai’ao in French Polynesia; IIS Isa Conti-Eller Vainicher in Lipari, Italy; Igor Vitale International in Foggia, Italy; and Geniko Lykeio Siteias in Crete, Greece. The partnership connects communities with very different geographical and cultural contexts, while sharing a strong relationship with the sea.
At the heart of Blue Ocean is the promotion of blue careers. These include occupations directly connected with the sea, such as maritime transport, marine biology, marine engineering and fisheries, but also a much wider range of professions involving technology, environmental protection, tourism, renewable energy, food innovation, research and sustainable development. The project therefore encourages students to see the ocean not only as an environmental resource that needs protection, but also as a space for learning, innovation and meaningful employment.
A major focus of the project is strengthening teachers’ capacity to motivate students towards blue careers and the STEM competences associated with them. Teachers are uniquely positioned to connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities. Mathematics, science, technology, and engineering can sometimes appear abstract to young learners; Blue Ocean seeks to show how these subjects apply to real challenges involving the ocean and marine environments.
The project also gives particular attention to students who may be less likely to consider STEM or maritime pathways, including girls and other students at risk of disengagement. By presenting diverse role models, practical examples and accessible learning activities, the project aims to broaden students’ perceptions of who can participate in blue careers.
International mobility and cooperation are another important element. Teacher training and school visits allow partners to exchange practices and experience different approaches to marine education. The visit to French Polynesia, for example, provided an opportunity to explore ocean conservation and blue careers in a Pacific context, while activities in Crete connected education with marine biology and aquariums. These experiences demonstrate that although the challenges and opportunities may differ from one region to another, schools can learn a great deal from one another.
Blue Ocean also supports digital learning. The project includes the development of educational resources and an EU-Pacific learning approach that can help students explore blue careers and related STEM competences beyond the physical classroom. In this way, the partnership seeks to create resources that can continue to be used after individual project activities have ended.
Ultimately, Blue Ocean is about creating connections: between schools and the world of work, between STEM learning and real-life problems, between environmental awareness and career education, and between young people living on different islands and coastal regions.
Through international cooperation, teacher development, classroom activities, digital learning and engagement with professionals, Blue Ocean aims to help the next generation understand the importance of the ocean and recognise the many possibilities that blue careers can offer. For island communities such as Gozo, this message is particularly relevant: the sea is not simply around us; it is part of our future.