In the French city of Le Havre, the meeting of the EUNICoast Rectors’ Board began with a visit to the Le Havre Port Center, which serves as a hub for understanding the connection between the city and its port, as well as their impact on innovation, sustainability, and education.

The meeting, organized by Le Havre Normandie University, the coordinator of the EUNICoast Alliance, is attended on behalf of the University of Dubrovnik by Rector Prof. Nebojša Stojčić, Ph.D., and Vice-Rector for Science and Sustainability Assoc. Prof. Marijana Pećarević, Ph.D.

The University of Dubrovnik is a member of the European University of Islands, Ports and Coastal Territories (EUNICoast), an alliance bringing together European coastal universities — six of which are located on islands — with the goal of joint action in research and knowledge transfer related to the sea, its benefits for people, and the importance of its preservation. The alliance places special emphasis on the challenges faced by European islands, coasts, and ports through research focused on fostering a sustainable and resilient blue economy.

The mission of the EUNICoast Alliance is to introduce European and global students and citizens to sustainable solutions for the development of societies in coastal and port areas and on islands, to promote a multicultural, multilingual, and inclusive European academic environment open to the world, and to enhance the capacity to respond to social and environmental challenges faced by island and coastal communities. The European Universities Initiative aims to strengthen the international competitiveness and quality of higher education institutions in Europe, while promoting European values and identity.