On Wednesday, May 17^th, 2023 members of the Network of European Blue Schools met online for the first Networking Meeting of 2023. Per the results of the survey preceding the organization of the meeting, the topic of the meeting was International Collaboration.

Through a series of interactive Slido surveys, we explored the most important aspects of international collaboration for the members of our Network, such as:

• What are the biggest barriers to international collaboration?
• What type of partners are the schools looking for?
• What types of collaborations are the schools looking for?
• What can EMSEA do for you?

The language barrier was listed as the top obstacle to international collaboration. Lack of time and funding were the other top issues listed by the meeting participants. The teachers also mentioned problems with finding schools to collaborate with and ideas for blue activities they could conduct with other schools and partners.

Most teachers are looking to collaborate with schools from different countries. Research institutions, NGOs, aquariums and museums, and fishermen, were among other possible collaborations that the schools are interested in. Many of the meeting participants are looking for informal collaboration, and not a well-defined or project-based partnership. However, some of the newest Network Members indicated that being invited to a funded and well-designed Blue Project (e.g. ERASMUS) would be a good way to start their involvement with the Network of European Blue Schools and would help potential Members understand the process of project development and certificate application.

Each survey was followed by a discussion about the problems and possible solutions to the problems in international collaboration.

A database or a platform that would allow teachers to find schools and partners, to develop and/or share Blue Project ideas with, was the most common answer to the question “What can EMSEA do for you?”. eTwinnig was given as an example of what may facilitate international collaboration for the Members of the Network of European Blue Schools.

Thank you to all of the participants who gave us ideas and guidance on how to improve international collaboration among Blue Schools. We will get back to you with solutions soon.