Student and school activities for the promotion of education on ‘blue’ sustainability and the protection of marine and freshwater ecosystems

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Increased mobilisation and engagement of children and youth in primary and secondary schools across the EU and in the Associated countries in the implementation of Mission objectives;
• Student and school projects implementing the Mission objectives and engaging and mobilising students, teachers and schools in the pursuit of ocean and water literacy, sustainability and Mission objectives, that at the same time contribute to the growing Network of European Blue Schools established under the EU4Ocean Coalition for Ocean Literacy;
• Increased ocean and water literacy among children and youth, teachers and schools, improved understanding of the value and of ocean and waters and enhanced sense of responsibility among the youth and teachers towards this planet and its boundaries;
• Ramp up accreditation of schools in the Network of European Blue Schools and engagement in their related activities, based on methodologies of Open Schooling, engaging with the community and communicating the results of their projects and in the implementation of Mission objectives and bring the ocean and water into the classroom at the EU- and Associated countries level.

Previous studies and pilot projects indicate that youth and school mobilisation and engagement and ocean and water literacy activities need to be linked with clearly defined goals and be focused on concrete actions and projects. Mission “Restore our ocean and waters by 2030” offers the opportunity to develop and implement projects by the students themselves, with the support and contribution of their schools, teachers and wider community, based on the established principles and practices of ocean literacy and the general framework on education for sustainability. These projects are expected to contribute, beyond being a pre-requisite for accreditation under the Network of European Blue Schools, to the implementation of Mission objectives.

Proposals under this topic will address the following:

• In cooperation with the Network of European Blue Schools established under the EU4Ocean coalition, expand and broaden the ocean and water literacy programmes for primary and secondary schools within the European Union and in the Associated Countries to allow them to become agents for change and sustainability of the ocean, seas and waters;
• Expand the Network of European Blue Schools further to all European Union Member States and to any Associated Countries, coastal or landlocked, and increase links between the established Blue Schools and other primary and secondary schools invite other primary and secondary schools aspiring to become accredited members of the European Network of Blue Schools through the development of common activities (i.e.: twinning projects, etc.) and through the sharing of their experiences;
• Promote the Mission, its objectives and activities in primary and secondary schools in the European Union and Associated Countries; promote methodologies of Open Schooling, engaging with the community and communication of project results, as important aspects of citizens participation and promotion of Mission objectives;
• Develop a pipeline of student and school projects implementing the Mission objectives and engaging and mobilising students, teachers and schools for the Mission and monitoring the progress of their implementation;
• Provide technical assistance and expertise for the proposed projects implementing the Mission objectives and expand ocean and water literacy and education for ocean and water sustainability;
• Highlight the contribution of student and school projects to achieving the Mission objectives through dissemination campaigns;

To address the impact-driven approach of the Mission, should include at least three calls for students and school projects, which will be supported through grants to third parties under this topic. The selection process for these student and school projects will be based on principles of transparency, fairness and objectivity, and will take into account the processes and requirements for schools accreditation as members of the Network of European Blue Schools.The student and school projects that should benefit from the financial support to third parties under this topic will demonstrate and cover the following elements:

• Demonstrably and measurably contribute to the implementation of the Mission objectives and targets set out in the Mission Implementation Plan, among others through development and implementation of innovative solutions and products contributing to those objectives;
• Entail strong and innovative ocean and water literacy activities aimed at students, teachers and parents of the school(s) concerned and promote methodologies of Open Schooling, engaging with the community and communication of project results;
• Be accredited members of the European network of Blue schools at the time of application for the financial support for third parties under this topic or demonstrate how they intend to meet the pre-requisites to become accredited members of the Network of European Blue Schools in order to receive the European Blue School accreditation by the time of the completion of the project with respect to which they are applying for a financial support to third parties under this topic.
• Entail a proposal for cooperation and/or twinning with other schools, in particular with the Network of European Blue Schools and those aspiring to become accredited members of the Network of European Blue School;
• Entail commitment to a Climate Pact Pledge^[1] leading to decarbonisation or at least carbon neutrality of the project and of the proposed school activities.

Proposals will develop and ensure:

• transparent, fair and objective selection and evaluation system for the student and school projects, and include, among the assessment criteria, a high degree of circularity, carbon neutrality and positive environmental impact of the project;
• full publication of the projects selected for funding and schools benefiting from the financial support to third parties under this topic, among others by publicising their results in the dedicated Network of European Blue Schools webpage^[2].

The student and school projects benefiting from the Financial Support to Third parties are entitled to receive technical assistance, which entails technical advisory services for the implementation and progress monitoring of the projects. The primary or secondary school which proposed the student or school project shall be the beneficiary of the Financial Support to Third parties which should be used exclusively for the implementation of the school and/or student project. A primary or secondary school shall benefit from the Financial Support to Third Parties provided under this topic only once. The maximum amount of Financial Support to Third Parties is EUR 10,000 per school for the entire duration of the action.

Projects funded under this topic will:

• build links with other Mission activities and other relevant activities within the Mission lighthouses’ areas and Blue Parks to maximize synergies;
• contribute to the aims and work pursued under the EU4Ocean Coalition and its dedicated Network of European Blue Schools and complement it;
• build links with the Mission implementation monitoring system that will be part of the Mission Implementation Support Platform and with the basin lighthouse support facilities and platforms, for reporting, monitoring and coordination of all relevant implementation activities in the lighthouses’ areas.

Participation of students of Ukrainian nationality who have received a temporary protection status in the European Union is encouraged.

Proposals are expected to show how their activities and results will achieve the Mission’s objectives, in line with the timeframe of the Mission phases, i.e.: by 2025 for the ‘development and piloting’ phase and 2030 for the ‘deployment and upscaling phase’.

[1] See Pledges (europa.eu)

[2] Maritime Forum (europa.eu)