NEBS: Recognizing and Inspiring Excellence in Blue Education

The Growth of NEBS and Blue Education

The Network of European Blue Schools (NEBS) is constantly evolving to better meet the needs of educators, students, and institutions. Initially launched as a grassroots initiative to recognize and certify schools for their blue projects, NEBS has seen rapid growth as interest has spread across Europe and beyond. Today, the network encompasses a diverse array of educational settings, reflecting the dynamic and growing field of blue education.

Looking ahead, our goal is to further strengthen NEBS as a vibrant community of practice. We aim to provide educators with access to resources, support the sharing of best practices, and encourage collaboration on innovative projects that promote ocean literacy and environmental stewardship. This mission extends not only within the European Union but also to associated countries, as we foster connections between schools, teachers, and institutions globally.

Inclusive Certification and Lasting Connections

As NEBS continues to expand and engage more teachers, timely adjustments to the program are essential. A hallmark of the Network of European Blue Schools is its inclusive approach to school certification. While certificates are issued for a specific school year, NEBS does not remove schools from the network once that year ends. This allows us to maintain ongoing communication and collaboration with all schools that have joined the network, ensuring continuous support and networking opportunities. By fostering long-term relationships with educators, we can sustain momentum for blue education initiatives across Europe.

Recognizing Engagement and Evolving Needs

Since its inception in 2020, the Blue Schools program has grown into a widely recognized initiative, attracting participants from a diverse range of educational backgrounds and geographic regions. Sustained engagement through networking meetings, conferences, and events has helped the program remain relevant and responsive to the changing needs of teachers and schools. To further adapt to this evolving landscape, a new system of certification was introduced in the summer of 2023, distinguishing three types of European Blue Schools:

• European Blue School: For schools meeting the criteria and located in EU Member States.
• Associated Blue School: For schools in Horizon Europe-associated countries.
• Partner Blue School: For institutions such as maritime vocational schools and teacher training centers that support or collaborate on Blue Projects.

Introducing Certification Levels for Greater Engagement

However, with the record influx of applications for the 2023/24 school year, it became evident that we also needed to recognize the varying levels of engagement among schools. To address this, we introduced certification levels in October 2024, acknowledging schools demonstrating different degrees of dedication to ocean literacy.

The new tiered certification system celebrates schools that have shown sustained involvement over several years. Schools can now earn one of three levels of certification:

1. Blue School (Entry Level) – For schools submitting projects lasting up to two school years.
2. Aquamarine Blue School (Intermediate Level) – For schools conducting projects spanning 2 to 5 school years.
3. Ultramarine Blue School (Advanced Level) – For schools demonstrating long-term commitment, with projects spanning more than five school years.

Recognizing Dedication: New Certifications in 2024

In September and October 2024, 93 schools were identified as eligible for higher levels of certification. On October 15, Aquamarine and Ultramarine certificates were issued to schools, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Teachers expressed their gratitude and excitement for the recognition, which highlighted their hard work and commitment to advancing the mission of EU Blue Schools.

Teacher Testimonials: Celebrating Achievements

Upon receiving the higher-level certificates, the teachers responded with the following reactions:

"Thank you very much! We are very happy and proud! We will continue our mission."

"We are very proud of this great distinction. We are eager to earn the Ultramarine certificate next! Thank you for all your support!"

“Thank you. It is an honour to receive this recognition.”

“We are very happy that our school received the Aquamarine Blue School certificate. We continued our wetland rehabilitation project this year as well, and we want to do the same in the coming years. Thank you for recognizing our work!”

These heartfelt responses reflect the growing momentum of the Blue Schools initiative and underscore the importance of recognizing schools at different stages of their ocean literacy journey. By introducing a tiered certification system, NEBS not only celebrates schools for their current efforts but also motivates ongoing participation and the advancement of blue education initiatives across Europe and beyond. Inspiring Ongoing Engagement in Ocean Literacy

As we move forward, we remain committed to inspiring broader awareness and engagement with ocean literacy. By providing a sense of achievement and prestige through higher certification levels, we hope to encourage more schools and teachers to join us in this vital mission of fostering a deeper connection with our oceans.