Course description

A-AAGORA is an EU-funded project focused on promoting sustainable blue growth in Europe’s marine and coastal regions. By combining scientific expertise, industry innovation, and community input, the project aims to enhance ecosystem health, support biodiversity, and strengthen climate resilience.

With three demonstrators in Norway, Ireland, and Portugal, as well as seven associated regions, A-AAGORA develops and tests practical solutions tailored to each marine environment. These include ecological assessments, digital tools for monitoring biodiversity and habitats. By integrating environmental, social, and economic data, the project supports informed decision-making for both nature and society. 

This free self paced course aims to enable the replication or development of innovative nature-based solutions and ecosystem based management that draw on community engagement for coastal restoration. Featuring diverse experts, real world experiences and 2 tailored training paths (practitioner and policy maker).

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course you:

• Understand the ecological, social, and climate-related importance of coastal restoration, and why urgent, integrated action is needed to address biodiversity loss and climate change. 
• Apply the principles of Ecosystem-Based Management to coastal contexts, recognizing interactions between ecosystems, human activities, and governance across entire coastal systems. 
• Identify and assess Nature-Based Solutions for coastal restoration, understanding how they can deliver ecological, social, and climate benefits when embedded in real-world contexts. 
• Design inclusive, participatory restoration processes by engaging communities, stakeholders, and innovation ecosystems through tools such as Living Labs, citizen science, and ocean literacy. 
• Evaluate pathways for scaling up coastal restoration initiatives by addressing governance, financing, socio-economic impacts, and practical challenges to achieve lasting, system-level change. 

Course content

• Module 1. What is coastal nature restoration about
• Module 2. How do we empower communities
• Module 3. Which solutions are on the table
• Module 4. How can Coastal restoration create socio economic value
• Module 5. How can we enable innovations at a wider scale
• Module 6. Ready to act? 

Audience

• Policy makers
• Local, regional & national authorities
• Port Authorities
• Coastal Zone Managers
• Marine Spatial Planning Officers
• Environmental Consultants
• NGOs & IGOs networks
• Social Scientists
• Researchers 

Language: English

Instructors

• Ana Isabel Lillebø
• Vera Hausner
• Dionísia Laranjeiro
• Ann Eileen Lennert
• Emma Verling
• Paulo Renato Baptista
• Ana Rodrigues
• Rianne van Duinen
• Clara Jarry
• Pierre Strosser
• Sašo Gorjanc
• Rudi Voss
• Facilitation: Olga Mashkina, Isabelle Görres

hours: 20-25 hours

Organiser

The Horizon Europe project Atlantic-Arctic Agora (A-AAGORA) is structured to support the European Commission Mission on “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” within the “Atlantic- Arctic lighthouse”. 

Assessment

Variety of quizzes receiving an minimum grade of 70 % for each quiz

Certificate

to obtain a certificate you need to complete all the modules, complete all the quizzes and obtain a minimum grade of 70 % for each quiz - complete the feedback survey.

Technical requirements

Learning Management System (Moodle)

• Computer with Windows or Mac OS
• Latest version of either Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari web browsers
• JavaScript and cookies enabled
• Broadband internet access (minimum bandwidth of 0.5 Mbps - Receive and Send)
• Speakers or headphones

Device Compatibility

• Access to a computer, laptop, or tablet with reliable internet connectivity.
• Capability to stream video content, as the course includes recorded video sessions.
• A stable and reasonably fast internet connection to ensure seamless access to course materials, videos, and interactive platforms.
• Basic software for document creation and reading, like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, for assignments and PDF reader for course readings.

Computer skills required 

You should be proficient in the following:

• Basic Computer Literacy - General familiarity with operating a computer or a similar device.
• Ability to navigate the web, such as accessing websites and using search engines.
• Communication Skills - Basic email skills for communication with trainers or peers, if required.
• Document Creation and Management - Skills for creating, editing, and sharing documents and assignments, if required. Ability to download, open, and read PDF files and other standard document formats.
• Multimedia Interaction - Basic skills to play, pause, and interact with online video content. Optionally, if there are interactive multimedia elements or assignments, the ability to engage with these tools would be beneficial.

No prior knowledge required

Self enrolment process: this course will open 22 May till 31 December 2026.

Please register on the OceanExpert website (www.oceanexpert.org). Once your OceanExpert account is approved (this is not done immediately), you can self-enrol in the course. If you already have an OceanExpert account, you can self-enrol in the course using your OceanExpert username and password.

First log-in OceanTeacher, then access the course page and click on self-enrolment. The enrolment key for all courses in 2026 is Coast#2026

For any questions please contact the OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@unesco.org) always using the name of the course as email subject.

this course is free of charge

Cancellation policy

In the event of cancellation of the course by the OTGA or its affiliates, we will provide notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date. In the event of cancellation by the attendee, we should receive notification of cancellation at least 7 days prior to the course date.