Between October 22 and 24, the University of Cádiz hosted the second edition of the BEING SEA-EU Conference, the main annual scientific meeting of the SEA-EU European University Alliance. Following the success of the first edition in Malta, the event reinforced Cádiz as a hub for interuniversity collaboration in Europe.

For three days, the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and the Constitución 1812 Building served as the venue for debates and international networking. The opening ceremony was attended by Rector Casimiro Mantell, Vice-Rector for Internationalization Marcela Iglesias, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation María Jesús Ortega, and the Director of the Internationalization Secretariat Enrique Durán.

In his speech, Rector Mantell highlighted the strategic role of the University of Cádiz within the SEA-EU alliance, which it has coordinated since its creation in 2019, and emphasized the commitment to a university model based on cooperation and joint development.

The event brought together more than 400 participants — including researchers, students, and representatives from partner institutions such as the World Maritime University (Sweden) and the University of Odessa (Ukraine). With over 100 oral presentations, 70 posters, and 29 audiovisual scientific capsules, the conference covered five areas: sciences, social sciences, engineering, health, and the arts.

Highlights included the plenary session of SEA-EU Student-Led Projects and the workshop by international expert Eva Haug on the COIL methodology, which promotes international collaborative learning. During the event, the Conventus project was presented through a poster by researcher Maria del Castilho, a member of the project team, showcasing UCA’s active participation in European research initiatives.

The program also included cultural and wellness activities, such as yoga sessions, free STI screenings, boat tours of the Bay of Cádiz, and the official dinner at the Castle of Santa Catalina.

Marcela Iglesias emphasized:

"BEING SEA-EU has shown that cooperation between European universities is not only possible, but tangible and sustainable, thanks to the active commitment of all the communities involved."