In recent years, human development has reached beyond land and coastline, making our seas and oceans an increasingly interesting place to exploit. Our seas offer opportunities in the development towards a sustainable future, with governments persistently setting their sights on using marine areas to deal with or prepare for climate change. This includes solving food crises with aquaculture and fisheries, accelerating the energy transition with offshore wind or realizing floating solar parks and tidal energy.

All these developments raise questions:

• Do we have the capabilities to realize transitions?
• What investments are needed to develop transitions, and what roles do policy and administration play?
• What are the consequences for biodiversity and nature?
• What limitations does the sea hold, and do we take all human interests into account?

The minor Sustainable Blue Economy will help you investigate these issues.

As Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the EU Green Deal has said:

“Healthy oceans are a precondition for a thriving blue economy. Pollution, overfishing and habitat destruction, coupled with the effects of the climate crisis, all threaten the rich marine biodiversity that the blue economy depends on. We must change track and develop a sustainable blue economy where environmental protection and economic activities go hand in hand.”

 (European Commission, 2021)

Added Value:
To answer the questions above, the minor Sustainable Blue Energy will teach students to look at the marine areas as a whole and use integrated approaches to solve the next challenge in human development: sustainable use of the marine environment

After this minor, the student is able to show that they can take a position in the Blue Economy discussion on climate, economic, legal, biological, energy, waste, tourism, transportation, and fishing aspects. Furthermore, they will be able to advise industries, governments or NGO’s on these matters.

Propaedeutic certificate.
Although not required, background knowledge in ecology and economy are useful

Application documents:
Transcript of Propaedeutic year

To be announced.

(Interactive/guest) lectures                               105 sbu
Seminars                                                         100 sbu
Discussions                                                       30 sbu
Excursions                                                        90 sbu
Group work                                                      100 sbu
Research                                                         200 sbu
Additional product                                             60 sbu
Self-study                                                       140 sbu

Additional product                                                              Final assignment                                     30 ECTS

Grade (scale 1-10, level of detail 0,1)

Obligatory contact hours​*
The amount of contact hours differs from week to week.

Capacity/waiting list:
Minimum of 15 students. If there are too few applications, the minor will not take place.