EUNICoast: Three International Training Programs to Strengthen Exchanges and Skills

In the spring of 2026, several staff members, researchers, and doctoral students from the University of Le Havre Normandy participated in intensive hybrid programs (BIP) organized as part of the European alliance EUNICoast. From university libraries to agile project management, and covering issues such as marine pollution and the health of coastal ecosystems, these exchanges provided opportunities to share best practices, acquire new skills, and develop collaborations with European partners. These programs concretely illustrate one of EUNICoast’s objectives: to promote mobility and exchanges among member institutions by bringing together students, faculty, and support staff around common themes.

A Gathering of European University Libraries in the Azores

From May 4 to 8, 2026, the University of the Azores (UAc) hosted the BIP “Building Bridges to Internationalization,” which focused on the role of university libraries in the internationalization of higher education. The University of Le Havre Normandy was represented by Isabelle Bizos, assistant director of the university library, and Mathilde Poulain, director of the university library. The training brought together 26 librarians from 13 European universities, including several EUNICoast partner institutions. Over the course of a week, the participants discussed strategies for library internationalization, open science, information policies, and support for research and teaching. The program included lectures, project presentations, professional exchanges, and study visits to libraries, museums, and archives on the island of São Miguel.

Similar professional practices: For Isabelle Bizos and Mathilde Poulain, this experience first highlighted the similarities in the challenges faced by European university libraries. “We share many common concerns; we even sometimes use the same professional tools, which makes it possible to consider joint projects.”

Discussions focused in particular on open science issues and on ways to build a dialogue with researchers in order to offer tailored services. The innovative library policies developed by certain Spanish partners, as well as the extensive digitization project presented by the University of the Antilles, also drew their particular attention. Beyond the professional exchanges, the warm welcome provided by the University of the Azores contributed to the richness of this exchange program. The program alternated between lectures, presentations, discussions, and social gatherings, fostering informal exchanges among participants. For the ULHN libraries, this experience opens up concrete opportunities for cooperation: developing joint projects in the field of library services, supporting student exchange programs with tailored resources, and pooling certain research-related services.

In Stralsund, Project Management in Support of Coastal Communities

From May 18 to 22, 2026, head to Stralsund, Germany, for the BIP on “Agile Project Management in Coastal Communities,” organized by the Hochschule Stralsund (HOST).

The ULHN was represented by Mohamed-Riad, Massiles Ghernaout, and Mounia Mohellebi, who were able to deepen their knowledge of project management and learn about various methodologies, including Kanban, Scrum, Extreme Programming, Scrumban, and Waterfall. The training program also stood out for the prominence given to guest speakers from the German industrial sector.

An approach that Massiles Ghernaout particularly appreciated: “The external speakers, who brought with them a wealth of experience in the German industrial market—including real-world professional challenges […]—were a great addition to the program. I loved hearing about their real-life work experiences.” Beyond the skills acquired, the week allowed participants to forge new connections with European faculty members and professionals. “We were able to make quite a few friends and professional contacts with the professors, which is always a plus.”

This momentum could continue beyond the training: the participants have stayed in touch and plan to draw on their new network for future projects.

In Palma, Researchers and Graduate Students Gather to Discuss the Health of Coastal Ecosystems

From May 18 to 22, 2026, the EUNICoast alliance also hosted the “Joint Strategic Initiative (JSI)” titled “Marine Pollution and Coastal Health,” organized jointly by the University of Le Havre Normandy and the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) in Palma de Mallorca. This training session brought together researchers and doctoral students to address issues related to marine pollution and the health of coastal ecosystems, a topic particularly relevant to the identities and regions of EUNICoast’s member institutions. ULHN was represented by Yosra Ben Cheikh, co-organizer of the workshop, as well as by three doctoral students: Jade Mourgues (SEBIO), Elisa Beaudet (URCOM), and Mohammad Danish (LOMC).

The program combined scientific presentations and workshops. Each morning, researchers from various EUNICoast partner universities presented their work. The afternoons were devoted to workshops that allowed participants to explore various scientific topics in greater depth. For Elisa Beaudet, a second-year Ph.D. student in chemistry at ULHN, this week was an opportunity to discover approaches and research from a variety of disciplines, particularly biology and chemistry. She also highlights the value of exchanges between young researchers and researchers from different European institutions:
“This experience is very enriching because it allows me to discover different perspectives and explore a variety of topics in biology, chemistry, and other scientific disciplines.”

Beyond the scientific aspects, this exchange has also fostered encounters and human interaction, in a context where environmental issues serve as common ground for the partner European universities.

Mobility Initiatives That Bring EUNICoast to Life

These three experiences, each with different profiles and themes, demonstrate the diversity of opportunities offered through EUNICoast. Library staff, support staff, professionals, researchers, and doctoral students can thus benefit from international training and expand their European networks. Beyond acquiring new skills, these mobility opportunities above all allow participants to gain a better understanding of partner institutions’ practices and to generate new ideas for collaboration. From scientific documentation to project management and research on coastal ecosystems, these exchanges help build—through each mobility program—a more closely connected European academic community centered on shared issues and challenges.