Students from Calvià present a sustainability project at European Maritime Day 2025

Students from IES Calvià, IES Son Ferrer, and IES Bendinat actively participated in the European Maritime Day 2025 (EMD2025), held in Cork, Ireland, from May 21 to 23. They had the opportunity to present their joint project, “Calvianers Sostenibles”, to the European community.

The initiative was promoted and coordinated by the Xarxa Balear d’Escoles Blaves, which played a key role in preparing the trip, managing the exhibition stand, organizing educational activities, and supporting the participating schools.

During the event, the students presented their project to representatives from the European Commission, the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), NGOs in the sector, and around sixty international exhibitors. They explained how they integrate sustainability into education through environmental monitoring of beaches, community action, and intergenerational activities, and they exchanged ideas with other European initiatives.

The program featured two main activities:

• A visit to the Irish school Coláiste Daibhéid, including a cultural exchange, STEM project presentations, and the discovery of local traditions such as traditional Irish dancing.
   
• An immersive experience at the Titanic Experience Cobh, allowing students to explore the history of Titanic passengers interactively through recreations and exhibits.

Additionally, students took part in workshops on marine renewable energy, the role of youth in the future of the ocean, and sustainable food systems, gaining new insights to incorporate into next year’s educational projects.

Other standout activities included:

• Traditional Spanish rowing from Cantabria with Navigatio, on the River Lee.
   
• A visit to a Spanish galleon and the patrol vessel Ocean Protector from the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA).
   
• Ocean literacy workshops led by the Irish marine education network.
   

Student feedback left no doubt about the impact of the experience: “Everything was amazing, the place, the school, EMD Cork 2025, the conference, the chance to learn more about helping our seas and our planet, surrounded by great teachers and good friends. An experience I’ll never forget.”

Teachers also shared their enthusiasm: “The best reward as a teacher was seeing the students' faces filled with joy and excitement throughout the trip. They had a unique experience and learned not only about the blue economy and sustainability but also life-long values.”

Another teacher added: “As a teacher, what I enjoyed most was the students’ company and the satisfaction of knowing they were on an unforgettable journey. Everything was a 10: the city, the conference, the students, the colleagues…”

The trip concluded with the official presentation of Network of European Blue Schools certificates by EMSEA, recognizing the educational efforts of the Calvià schools in promoting Ocean Literacy across Europe. This distinction symbolizes the dedication of teaching teams, the active involvement of students, and Calvià’s commitment to marine sustainability, citizen science, and international cooperation.

Through experiences like this, Calvià is establishing itself as an educational leader within the European strategy to restore oceans and waters by 2030, fostering an active, informed, and committed educational community supporting the continent’s blue future.