16 May Transnational training activity for Asian HEIs’ staff in Athens, Geece
Following the completion of the online training on methods and tools for developing and sustaining effective collaboration frameworks – tailored for the administrative and academic staff involved in the operation of the Sustainable Blue Economy Centres in each of the 4 HEIs – a 10-day transnational face-to-face training activity was organised and conducted by Symplexis, with the support of Aegean Rebreath, the University of Aegean, and the University of Cyprus. The training took place in Athens, Greece, and the broader Attica region, from January 27 to February 7, 2025.
A core team of 13 of the trained in the Capacity Building Programme staff, participated in this follow-up transnational training activity, which included presentations, theoretical and practical elements, and study visits and meetings with n-Helix networks and innovation leaders in Greece. The training began with an overview session and a presentation by Prof. Nikos Ventikos from the School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens, followed by a recap of the online capacity-building webinars. Subsequent days focused on action planning for the Sustainable Blue Economy Centres (SBECs) and included guided visits to key institutions such as the National Technical University of Athens, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, the Blue Cycle initiative in Piraeus, and the Hellenic Maritime Museum. A day trip to Poros Island offered insight into local sustainability practices and the work of the Blue Municipalities Network.
The second week continued with a visit to the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. Participants also attended expert presentations at InterAlia on sustainable aquaculture and worked collaboratively on SBECs’ annual plans. Additional highlights included a cultural visit to the Acropolis and a study visit in Rafina. The training concluded with a presentation of the MUSICA project, a final review session, and a symbolic exchange of gifts, reaffirming the participants’ shared commitment to the SustainaBlue project and its long-term goals.
