The OceanSchool is a pioneer pedagogical project in Blue Growth resulting from a partnership between NovaSBE in Portugal and NHH in Bergen, Norway, and funded by EEA Grants 2020.
Several initiatives already exist focused on fostering expertise in different fields related to blue growth. However, there is a lack of education and training programs in economics devoted to blue growth. OceanSchool fills that gap by developing an innovative multidisciplinary course stream initiative in blue growth for master’s students at NovaSBE and NHH.
The program builds upon the expertise on (i) Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from leading European Schools of Economics and on (ii) natural sciences and public policy practice from recognized public institutions responsible for data collection, research, and public policy advice in maritime affairs, such as, the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA) (https://www.ipma.pt/pt/index.html).
At NovaSBE, the program is designed for both the master's in economics, a pre-experience three-semester program, and the master’s in international development and public policy (MIDPP), aiming to attract both pre-experience and mid-career practitioners. At the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), Bergen, Norway (https://www.nhh.no/en/) the program is designed for students in the flagship Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration, which offers both a major and minor in Environmental and Natural Resources.
Blue Growth is a transdisciplinary subject. Taking that into account, the program curriculum has been designed to offer students a solid background in resource and environmental economics, with a focus on marine resources. OceanSchool will thus endow students with the necessary competence and skills to develop economic and public policy analysis on maritime topics, delivering the first specialized breed of economists and practitioners related to Blue Growth in Portugal.
A first presentation of the program was held on August 31st 2023 at Nova SBE.
The OceanSchool allows for the exchange of students and researchers between the two institutions. The first exchange took place at NHH, from January 8th to January 19th 2024, where 11 selected Portuguese students participated.
Photo credit: Ingunn Gjaerde/NHH.
The topic was Fishery Economics and was taught by Professor Trond Bjørndal ((Professor and Director of the Centre for the Economics and Management of Aquatic Resources (CEMARE), University of Portsmouth, UK, and Professor II, Aalesund University College, Norway)
Link to the Courses:
The Economics of Fisheries Management I
The Economics of Fisheries Management II
This, year, from February 26th to March 1st, the winter program will be held at the NovaSBE Campus in Carcavelos, Portugal.
Finally, the Summer Intensive Course will be held at NovaSBE in the last week of June and the first of July 2024. It is expected that at least 8 master’s theses will be jointly coordinated during the program.
*www.eeagrants.gov.pt