Project overview

Project overview

Premises

The University of Bologna provides financial contributions to promote innovative initiatives promoted by the Departments in the framework of international inter-university or industry cooperation agreements, already signed and in force at the date of this notice.

Projects must initiate or be integrated with internationalisation initiatives and activities of the proposing structure(s), linked to implementation of the strategic plan of the structure(s) and of the university, and must promote the University of Bologna at an institutional level.

The present project was presented by the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA) and selected by the University of Bologna under the 2025 call for proposals. The project activities started in August 2025 and will be completed by July 2027.

The Bridging Reefs project: tropical vs. temperate biogenic reefs

The Bridging Reefs project aims to establish a structured cooperation and exchange program between the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA) at the University of Bologna and the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science at Sam Ratulangi University (UNSRAT), Indonesia, focused on the comparative study and practical implementation of coastal marine habitat restoration strategies concerning tropical (e.g., coral & oyster) and temperate (e.g., oysters and sabellaria) biogenic reefs. The initiative addresses the urgent need for interdisciplinary, cross-regional training in ecosystem restoration while fostering international academic cooperation and student mobility.

The goal is to create a mutual knowledge exchange and reciprocal learning environment in which teachers and students from both institutions engage in fieldwork, research, and apply shared best practices related to restoring oyster and sabellaria reefs in the Adriatic Sea (Italy) and oyster and coral reefs in the Coral Triangle (Indonesia). These habitats represent key bioconstruction and offer distinct habitat restoration challenges and sociocultural contexts.
The exchange gives teachers and students a chance to gain practical experience in marine habitat restoration while engaging directly with the cultural and ecological challenges of working in different parts of the world. It also offers insight into how local communities relate to their marine environments and the approaches they use to manage and restore them. At the institutional level, Bridging Reefs intends to deepen collaboration between the two universities, enhances their international importance, and appeal to future partners and students. From this perspective, the project, in line with the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration priorities, offers a solid example of educational commitment to address global environmental challenges and student involvement.

The project introduces a novel model of student mobility focused on applied marine science. It emphasises practical experience based on learning by doing, shared responsibility, and reciprocal capacity-building. This integrated approach addresses the innovation dimension by combining field-based habitat restoration work with structured academic training across regions usually underrepresented in joint mobility schemes.

The aims of the project are perfectly in line with the strategic guidelines of the BiGeA Department, in particular with objective D.04 "promote study and research training experiences abroad", as well as with the objectives of the University strategic plan such as "12 - Increase international mobility of teaching, technical and administrative staff", "18 - Encourage study and research training experiences abroad", "19 - Strengthen international teaching", "21 - Encourage interdisciplinary research".

The Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Bologna (UNIBO)

Leggi dettagli

The Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science at Sam Ratulangi University (UNSRAT)

Leggi dettagli

Sam Ratulangi University (UNSRAT), located in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, is a leading public university in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia with a strong academic tradition in marine and environmental sciences. The university hosts the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, which is internationally recognized for its research and educational programs related to coral reef ecology, coastal resource management, and marine biodiversity conservation. UNSRAT, and Indonesia in general, is also strategically positioned at the centre of the Coral Triangle, the global epicentre of marine biodiversity, providing a unique natural laboratory for studying tropical marine ecosystems.
UNSRAT was chosen as a partner for its location, hands-on experience, and already established scientific collaboration (see for example the publications https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-020-01097-1; https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.863629). Based in one of the world’s most biodiverse
marine regions, the university has built strong working relationships with national parks (e.g., the Bunaken National Park), coastal communities, and local NGOs. Its Fisheries and Marine Science faculty brings practical expertise in coral reef restoration and a deep understanding of how conservation efforts intersect with social and cultural dynamics. This environment creates a valuable opportunity for students and researchers to engage directly with real-world habitat restoration projects in a complex tropical setting. Furthermore, an ongoing 5-years international cooperation agreement between the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science at UNSRAT and the BiGeA Department at UNIBO for visiting staff and student mobility, signed on March 20, 2024 (Annex 3 - international cooperation agreements signed at the individual structure level) is in force.
The collaboration between UNSRAT and UNIBO is also justified by the growing global interest in cross-regional approaches to ecosystem restoration.
UNSRAT has demonstrated its institutional readiness to support student mobility and joint research activities, and it shares a strong commitment to sustainability, internationalization, and youth training. The university has participated in multiple international programs and is equipped to host and mentor students through structured internships and field-based modules. This collaboration will not only benefit participating students and researchers, but also reinforce institutional ties, co-develop replicable models of education linked to marine habitat restoration, and promote long-term academic cooperation between Italy and Indonesia.

EXPECTED RESULTS

The Bridging Reefs project is expected to generate tangible academic, environmental, and social outcomes relevant to the current BiGeA department and UNIBO strategic plans, as well as to the social and environmental commitments of UNSRAT.

Benefits for students from both universities:

Acquisition of cross-disciplinary and practical skills in marine habitat restoration.
Enhanced intercultural competence and global environmental awareness.
Increased employability and preparation for international careers in marine conservation.

Benefits for both academic institutions:

Strengthened ties between UNIBO and UNSRAT, laying the groundwork for future joint research, co-supervision, and international education initiatives.
Improved visibility of both Universities within global academic networks in marine sciences.
Establishment of a transferable model for small-scale, high-impact student exchanges.

Environmental and social impacts:

Contribution to ongoing marine habitat restoration efforts in both the Mediterranean Sea (e.g., the EU co-funded LIFE NatuReef project for oyster restoration in the Adriatic Sea, coordinated by UNIBO) and the Coral Triangle.
Creation of open-access educational materials and outreach content to support knowledge dissemination.
Promoting equitable partnerships highlights the value of mutual learning and diverse ecological perspectives.
Create opportunities for intercultural exchange by involving faculties and students in local community-based monitoring activities (citizen science) and cultural events during their mobility.

The defined project objectives, the structured implementation plan, and the achievable results reflect a strong and thoughtful alignment with the priorities of international academic cooperation, the development of mobility, internship and fieldwork schemes for students and PhD students, and the criteria set for this call.

IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

The Bridging Reefs project will be developed over 2 years, including 2 cycles of online joint workshops and faculties and student mobility. Faculties from both institutions will jointly plan and supervise all activities to ensure alignment with academic standards and local contexts. Selection of students will be made through a merit-based and inclusive process, ensuring gender balance. Student selection will take place according to the principles of publicity, impartiality and transparency (Law15/2005) and implemented by Art.3.2 of the UNIBO statute.

Preparatory Phase (pm1–4)

UNIBO and UNSRAT coordination meetings to define objectives, logistics, and safety procedures. Students’ selection for the 1st exchange cycle (pm2)
Development of learning agreement and teaching materials for both cohorts (pm4)

1st Exchange Cycle (pm5–15)

1st online workshop on marine habitat restoration best practices in tropical areas, opened to all students from relevant degree programs at UNIBO and UNSRAT, with at least 2 relators per university and an external invited speaker (pm5)
2nd online workshop on marine habitat restoration best practices in temperate areas, opened to all students from relevant degree programs at UNIBO and UNSRAT, with at least 2 relators per university and an external invited speaker (pm9)
2 students and 1 faculty member from UNSRAT spend 3 weeks at UNIBO (Ravenna Campus) to practice sampling on restored oyster and sabellaria reef, laboratory analysis and data processing (pm 11)
2 students and 2 faculty members from UNIBO spend 3 weeks at UNSRAT to practice sampling on restored coral reefs, laboratory analysis and data processing (pm15)

2nd Exchange Cycle (pm16–23)

Midterm report and students’ selection for the 2nd exchange cycle (pm16)
3rd online workshop on marine habitat restoration best practices in tropical areas, opened to all students from relevant degree programs at UNIBO and UNSRAT, with at least 2 relators per university and an external invited speaker (pm17)
4th online workshop on marine habitat restoration best practices in temperate areas, opened to all students from relevant degree programs at UNIBO and UNSRAT, with at least 2 relators per university and an external invited speaker (pm19)
2 students and 2 faculty members from UNIBO spend 3 weeks at UNSRAT to practice sampling on restored coral reefs, laboratory analysis and data processing (pm21)
2 students and 1 faculty member from UNSRAT spend 3 weeks at UNIBO (Ravenna Campus) to practice sampling on restored oyster and sabellaria reef, laboratory analysis and data processing (pm23)

Consolidation & Dissemination (pm24)

“Ocean Day” closing event bringing together participants, faculty, and external stakeholders to present outcomes and lessons learned with case studies presentations by students (pm24)
Final report (pm24)

Students will be encouraged to participate in local citizen science projects and document their experiences through social media and digital storytelling.