Q: What is a European Blue School and the Find the Blue Challenge?
A: A European Blue School is a school that developed a project connected to the ocean and received a certification by the Network of European Blue Schools (NEBS). This project can be guided by the Find the Blue motto, which challenges the school to identify an ocean-based topic relevant to their students and aims to make the ocean a pertinent part of the school curriculum through project-based learning. You can learn more about European Blue Schools and the Network here.
Q: How can my school become a European Blue School? How do I apply to get the Blue School Certification?
A: If you have developed a project that meets the five mandatory criteria and you have either completed it with your students or are in the process of doing so, you can apply to become a European Blue School. To apply for the Blue School Certification, you need to submit your project using the online application form.
Please note that the form must be completed in English, and the project must be either ongoing or finished. Applications submitted in languages other than English, or for projects that have not yet started by the application period, will not be considered.
If you experience any issues with the application form, please contact us at info
blueschools [dot] eu (info[at]blueschools[dot]eu). Once you have completed the form, you will receive a confirmation email.
Applications are open twice a year and are evaluated by the European Blue Schools coordinating team. After the evaluation period, you will receive an email with the results.
For more information on the upcoming application round, please visit the NEBS website.
Q: Our school has already developed an ocean project. Can we submit this project as our Find the Blue Challenge?
A: Yes, eligible projects can be either completed or currently ongoing. This means that the project must have started at least during the semester in which you are applying. For example, if you are applying during the January–May period, projects that started before May are accepted.
Q: I want to become a Blue School but don’t know how to create a project. Do you have available resources?
A: Yes, we offer various resources to help you develop a Blue Project and apply for certification. We encourage you to visit the “How to Develop a Project” section on the NEBS website.
For more tips, resources, and practical advice, take a deep dive into our Handbook for Teachers. Additionally, we recommend exploring the "Examples of Blue School Projects" section on our website. This section showcases a variety of project ideas and demonstrates that not every project has to be science-oriented or developed in a coastal setting.
If you’re a teacher registered with ESEP or eTwinning, we also invite you to join our NEBS ESEP/eTwinning group. In this group, we post additional resources and materials, including a link to our MOOC course on Blue Project development.
Q: Can schools from non-EU countries become a European Blue School? / My school isn’t located in an EU country, can I still apply?
A: Yes! Schools located outside the EU can still participate. There is an Associated Blue School Certificate available for schools in countries associated with Horizon Europe. However, the school must still conduct a project that meets the required criteria.
For more details about the Blue School Certification related to geographical location, including eligibility for funding and other resources, please visit the “Blue School Certification: Geographical Location” section of the NEBS website.
Q: My country doesn’t have a coastline. Can my project be about a river, lake, or other freshwater ecosystems?
A: Yes! Everything is connected to the ocean, even if not directly. Your challenge is to find the "blue" in your school, city, or community. Rivers, lakes, and other freshwater ecosystems are excellent topics for a school project. If you need inspiration, check out some inland Blue School projects!
Q: What is the value of the certification? And is funding included?
A: The European Blue School certificate recognizes teachers for their outstanding contributions and the projects developed by their students. By receiving this certification, your school will gain international visibility and benefit from a large European network where synergies, partnerships, and experiences can be shared. Visit our website to learn more about the benefits of becoming a European Blue School.
While there is no direct funding associated with the European Blue School certificate, certified schools are eligible to apply for grants from Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” projects such as ProBlue, SHORE, and BlueLightS. Please note that applications for these grants must be submitted directly through the respective partner project websites. Alternatively, you can develop your project with Erasmus+ funding. Contact your Erasmus+ National Agency to explore your options.
Q: I don’t have experience in establishing partnerships. What is considered a good partner, and how should I start a partnership?
A: A good partner can be anyone who supports your project, whether by providing advice, resources, helping to share your work, or guiding you in exploring your ocean-related topic. Collaborating with your local community is key to a successful project! Here are some examples of potential partners:
- Local councils
- Community organizations
- NGOs and volunteer groups
- Public transportation services
- Libraries
- Aquariums and coastal visitor centers
- Art galleries, museums, and science centers
- Marketing and commercial companies
- Maritime sector workers (e.g., fishermen, fish farmers, boating companies, dredging engineers, offshore wind engineers, port authorities, water sports schools, coastguards, tour operators, diving clubs)
- Managers of rivers, lakes, or other water bodies
To start possible partnerships, don’t hesitate to jump off your boat and reach out to the people and / or organizations you wish to work with and present them your ideas! Explain your needs and goals, and try to arrange a visit to your school or visit their location. Any start is a good start!
If you're not sure which organizations might support your project, explore the EU4Ocean Platform. This platform brings together a wide range of stakeholders from marine research, science policy, the blue economy, civil society, arts, education, youth, and media. It includes organizations at local, national, and regional levels, as well as European initiatives.
Q: How long will I wait for the result of my application?
A: As of September 2024, we introduced a new evaluation system. Although the final deadlines to submit your application are December 15th and May 31st, applications will now be evaluated during the first week of each month. This means that the last day of each month during the application period serves as a “midterm deadline,” after which applications are reviewed.
We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible, but the evaluation time may vary depending on the number of applications we receive. Additionally, if your application is assessed as having potential but is not entirely clear, we may contact you to provide additional information.
Q: In case of rejection, can I improve my application and reapply?
A: Yes! After the evaluation process, you will be notified of the results by email. If your application is rejected, you can contact us to ask for specific reasons and feedback on how to improve your application. For a better chance of success in the future, please consider the feedback provided by our team and make the necessary adjustments to your project and/or application.
Q: Can a school reapply with different projects? / Can my school reapply with different projects?
A: Yes! We encourage you to apply or reapply with various projects. If you apply with two projects in the same semester and both applications are successful, you will receive one certificate with both project names. If one of your applications is not successful, you can still become a European Blue School if the other project meets the criteria.
If you reapply each year with new projects and your applications are successful, you will receive a new certificate each year. Over time, you may become eligible for a higher level of Blue School certification.
Q: If my project is longer than a year, do I have to reapply?
A: NEBS issues certificates to participating schools for the specific school year indicated on the certificate. However, we do not automatically remove schools from the Network when the school year ends.
If your project extends beyond one school year, you may become eligible for a higher level of certification, and an appropriate certificate will be issued to you. If you wish to receive a separate certificate for each school year that you continue your Blue Project, you will need to reapply. You are welcome to provide a shorter project summary indicating that it is a reapplication of a previous project. This will facilitate both your application and the evaluation process on our side.