Terms of Reference
All-Atlantic Floating University Network
The following are the All-Atlantic Floating University (@SeaNetwork) Terms of Reference as approved at the December 2022 meeting in Cape Town:
1. Rationale
Training at sea is critical for preparing the new generations of Early Career Ocean Professionals. Multiple training at sea opportunities and programs are in operation globally that target different needs and requirements for different academic and maritime sectors.
To strengthen and develop further training at sea in the Atlantic region, greater exchange and collaboration between new and existing programs is essential, including sharing of best practices. This is the purpose of the creation of this All-Atlantic Floating University Network (@SeaNetwork), in the scope of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance.
This cooperation network is in line with the Galway (2013) and Belém (2017) Statements and also the Washington AAORIA Declaration (2022) by engaging partners from the whole Atlantic region with a common objective and purpose. In addition, @SeaNetwork contributes to the objectives of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the European Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”.
2. Objectives
The All-Atlantic Floating University Network (@SeaNetwork) will:
- Build on, and bring together, highly successful training at sea programs from various countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean, and from countries and organizations that promote training at sea in the Atlantic pole-pole region;
- Jointly identify and address capacity development gaps and needs in training at sea across the Atlantic;
- Promote transatlantic innovative and targeted training at sea, building on best practices;
- Seek to develop and promote an internationally recognised accreditation system between Training at Sea Programs.
- Explore funding possibilities to support trainees and trainers mobility.
@SeaNetwork will seek to:
- Facilitate, optimize and maximize training at sea opportunities within the Atlantic region, taking into account regional and gender balance, and with a focus on opportunities for developing countries;
- Promote a higher level of cooperation across existing initiatives and exploit synergies between them;
- Promote coordinated training at sea at various levels (final year undergraduates, postgraduates, young researchers and technicians), with an All-Atlantic perspective, in a gender balanced, multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary, multicultural and intergenerational environment;
- Promote pole to pole Atlantic mobility of trainers and trainees within the network;
- Create innovative and targeted approaches in Capacity Development to overcome ocean issues, including promoting opportunities for Science-Policy dialogue at sea;
- Encourage and provide knowledge/support to new and emerging Training at Sea programs;
- Benefit from thematic and calendar complementarities of the various training at sea programs in the Atlantic and beyond;
- Annually compile and publicize training opportunities;
- Contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the European Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” objectives as well as the goals of Galway and Belém Statements and the Washington AAORIA Declaration (2022)
3. Membership
@SeaNetwork is an open-ended network. Membership is open to all institutions and organisations that run existing training at sea programs in the Atlantic, as well as those that support or seek to implement future training at sea programs, and organisations that support ocean-related capacity development programs. Representatives from similar programs worldwide are also welcome to join this network.
Membership is free and does not include any annual meeting costs.
4. @SeaNetwork organization
As a cooperation network @SeaNetwork is an opportunity for information and best practices exchanges among its members. As such, it is a member-driven group.
The @Seanetwork organization is composed of the Steering Committee and an Advisory Group that will include ECOP representatives.
The Steering Committee consists of the Chair and up to four Vice Chairs, from at least 3 different regions, elected every two years by simple majority of members attending the annual meeting and are committed to serving for two years in this role. The outgoing chair will support the incoming chair for a period of 6 months.
The Steering Committee will elect its Chair, that will act as the formal @SeaNetwork representative to other groups and programs. The Steering Committee may invite experts to assist on specific matters, as required. The members of the Steering Committee cannot serve for more than 2 consecutive terms.
The Steering Committee is responsible for:
- Setting the agenda and chairing the annual meeting;
- Proposing and overseeing working groups and/or workshops as necessary;
- Ensuring that an annual compilation of training opportunities is carried out and publicized;
- The recording and production of meeting minutes;
- Ensuring that minutes are circulated amongst members;
- Maintaining the membership and contact list;
- Accepting new membership applications;
- the Chair of the Steering Committee will act as the formal @SeaNetwork representative
- Preparing the election procedures for the next Steering Committee.
- Inviting experts and ECOP representatives to form the Advisory Group.
5. Annual Meeting
@SeaNetwork will hold an annual plenary meeting. The meeting minutes shall be circulated among members no later than two calendar months after the meeting.
6. Relations to other groups and programs
@SeaNetwork seeks to develop strong links with similar programs worldwide.
Annex: List of Founding Members
