OceanTeacher Global Academy

This hybrid course, organized by the Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience, provides an in-depth exploration of coastal resilience and its vital role in supporting sustainable business practices and protecting communities against climate change-related impacts. Through five interconnected modules and an in-presence hands-on week, participants will learn and implement the principles, technologies, and strategies needed to understand, assess, and bolster resilience within coastal regions, while emphasizing business responsibility and proactive risk management.

Venue

The course will be subdivided into two phases:

An online phase will take place through OTGA e-learning platform.

An in-person phase which will be held in Bertinoro, Italy, at the University Residential Center of Bertinoro (CE.U.B.).

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the participants should be able to:

• Understand Coastal Resilience and its Business Implications
• Utilize Operational Oceanography Products for Hazard Analysis
• Assess Environmental Impact and Manage Coastal Risks
• Apply Enabling Technologies to Coastal Resilience Challenges
• Develop Practical Resilience Solutions for Critical Coastal Infrastructure
• Showcase innovative solutions executing a Real-World Coastal Resilience Project

Target audience

The course is a post-graduate and early-career course for professional development and continuing education. The course is particularly aimed at early-career scientists, young professionals from coastal consulting firms, coastal managers and operators, as well as members of environmental protection agencies and civil protection organizations.                      

Pre-requisites

Course content

Language of instruction: English

• Nadia Pinardi
• Quillon Harpman
• Renata Archetti

This comprehensive course provides an in-depth exploration of Coastal Resilience concepts that are key in supporting sustainable business practices and protecting communities against natural hazards and climate change-related impacts. Through five interconnected online modules and a range of interactive learning activities, participants will learn and implement the principles, technologies, and strategies needed to understand, assess, and bolster resilience within coastal regions, while emphasizing business responsibility and proactive risk management tailored to Asia-Pacific context. 

Building on the success of its first edition, this course is a fully online training focused on the Asia-Pacific regional needs and priorities, jointly coordinated by the Second Institute of Oceanography of China, Ministry of Natural Resources (SIOMNR), the IOC OceanTeacher Global Academy Regional Training Centre China (National Marine Data and Information Service-China, NMDIS), the Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience (DCC-CR), the Western Pacific Subcommission of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC WESTPAC), Decade Capacity Development Facility (CDF), the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC) of Italy and the CINECA Interactive Computing Services in Bologna, Italy.

Needs and priority

Learning outcomes

Course content

The course is composed of five online modules: 

• Overview of Coastal Resilience and its importance for Business  
• Understanding coastal hazards from operational oceanography products 
• Impact Assessment and risk management  
• Enabling technologies for Coastal Resilience 
• Solutions for Coastal Resilience

The content will be further complemented by interactive discussions, case studies, and collaborative learning activities to support knowledge exchange and practical application.

Target audience

Pre-requisites

Language of instruction: English

Course Coordinators

Villy, Kourafalou

Contributing subject experts will be available later on.

Course Format & Duration

The online modules include both self-paced activities and weekly synchronous sessions (attendance is strongly recommended and tracked, but not mandatory). The online modules comprise an estimated 70 hours of training and will be available from 2 June until 11 August, 2026.  

Assessment & Certificate

This course contains self-paced automated assessments as well as written and oral assignments. A certificate will be awarded to the participants upon successful completion of: 

• All modules and lessons;
• Assessments and assignments (passmark: 70%);
• Completion of a pre and post-test; and
• Completion of a feedback survey. 

Application 

A limited number of seats are available, to be confirmed by the organizers at a later stage, depending on the support and accessibility required to the training activities. 

Applications process will run through OTGA online form. Please fill out the online application form available at this LINK. Applications open on 11 March 2026. The deadline to submit the application is 26 March 2026 (23:59 CET: Central European Time). Extended deadline: 02 April 2026 (23:59 CEST). NEW and LAST Extended deadline: 8 April 2026 (23:59 CEST).

Documents requested

Selection criteria

UNESCO is committed to promoting equal access principles. Applications from minority or underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

Costs

Free of charge. There are no tuition fees.

Contacts

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

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.

Course description

This training provides an in-depth understanding of tsunami mitigation strategies, emphasizing early warning systems and effective risk communication. Participants will explore the principles and mechanisms behind tectonic and non-tectonic tsunami early warning systems, focusing on their implementation in Indonesia. The course will also cover real-world case studies from Indonesia and Japan, providing hands-on learning experiences to enhance practical skills.

Learning outcomes

• understand the principles and best practices of tsunami mitigation
• Understand the basic knowledge of tectonic-tsunami  early warning system
• Understand the basic knowledge of non-tectonic tsunami early warning system
• Able to communicate the risk of tsunami
• Able to demonstrate the case study of tsunami mitigation presented during the hands-on

The course content is listed as follows

• Overview of Global Tsunami Mitigation
• Tsunami Literation and Mitigation, Case study in Japan
• Tsunami Mitigation, Case study in Indonesia
• Introduction to Tectonic-Tsunami Early Warning System in Indonesia 
• Introduction to Non Tectonic-Tsunami Early Warning System in Indonesia 
• Risk Communication

By the end of this training, participants will be equipped with the knowledge to assess tsunami risks, communicate effectively in crisis situations, and apply mitigation measures in their respective fields. Through hands-on training in cutting-edge data processing techniques, participants will gain the scientific expertise needed to derive accurate insights, enhancing their capabilities to contribute effectively to mitigate tsunami.

The major learning activities of the training will be included

• Lectures
• Discussions
• Case studies
• Coaching
• Hands-on
• Exercise
• Action Plan

synchronous sessions

There will be synchronous sessions every day (see agenda)

Target audience and prerequisites

The primary targeted audience will be disaster management professionals, researchers, policymakers, and anyone who is involved in tsunami mitigation and risk reduction strategies activities. Participants have at least a bachelor's degree or have an equivalent level of academic background geophysics, seismology, or any subject relevant to disaster management, preferably under the age of 45 years old, and have sufficient command of spoken and written English.

Language of instruction

English

Instructors 

• Overview of Global Tsunami Mitigation: Dr. Nelly Florida Riama (14 July 2025)
• Tsunami Literation and Mitigation, case study tsunami Japan of 1 January 2024: Professor Megumi Sugimoto  (14 July 2025)
• Tsunami Mitigation, case study tsunami Indonesia:  Dr Weniza (15 July 2025)
• Introduction to Tsunami Ready Recognition Program: Ms Suci Dewi Anugerah (15 July 2025)
• Lesson learnt on Tsunami Ready Implementation in Indonesia: Mr. Admiral Musa (15 July 2025)
• Introduction to Tectonic-Tsunami Early Warning System in Indonesia: Dr Wijayanto (16 July 2025)
• Introduction to Non-Tectonic-Tsunami Early Warning System in Indonesia: Mr Januar Arifin (17 July 2025)
• Risk Communication: Professor Ota Yoko (18 July 2025)

course duration (1 learning hours = 45 minutes):

• Synchronous: 24 learning hours
• Asynchronous: 18 learning hours
• Total: 42 learning hours

Learner assessment

Initial assessment will be done through the pre-test before the class starts.

For formative evaluation, assignments and discussions the OTGA/BMKG Learning Management System will be used .

For the summative assessment, at the end of the course, participants will have a post-test and have to write an action plan on how they will implement the knowledge they gained during the training and a report following a timeline of the proposed action plan.

Certificate

a certificate will be issued if the participant meets the criteria

• present in all sessions/class (100% attendance)
• completed a minimum of 90% of all the assignments
• receive a score of 60 out of 100 on the post-test

Technology requirements

Participants are required to have access to a computer (laptop or PC) with a stable internet connection. Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is necessary for completing assignments and engaging with course materials. No advanced IT skills are required.

Pre-requisites no

Application process

A limited number of seats (30) are available. Please fill out the online application form available at this LINK

The deadline to submit the application is 25 June 2025 (23:59 CET: Central European Time).

Selection criteria

• Relevance to the Field – Applicants must have relevancy in tsunami mitigation, disaster management, or other related fields in their work/ studies.
• Completion of Registration Documents – Applicants must submit all required registration documents within the specified deadline to be considered for selection.

Costs

Free of charge. There are no tuition fees.

Contacts

For any questions, please contact OTGA Secretariat (ioc.training@unesco.org) or  Anni Arumsari Fitriany (anni.arumsari@bmkg.go.id)  always using the name of the course as e-mail subject.

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.

This workshop builds on the successful partnership between the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS-USA) in coordination with IOC’s OceanTeacher Global Academy, and OBIS international to develop a community of practice around the management and analysis of marine biological data. It will provide hands-on training in a computer lab setting and is intended to educate participants on the benefits, goals, technology and process to standardize biological data (and associated physical or chemical data) and make it accessible via OBIS and IOOS, including the MBON Portal. The workshop will also expose participants to OBIS, IOOS and MBON applications for using those data.

Background

A legally binding agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) is the third implementing agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Entry into force in January 2026 marks 20 years since discussions at UN level had begun.  The BBNJ Agreement combines the conservation of marine species and their sustainable use and includes diverse stakeholders in the future design of ocean governance, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, scientists, industry, and decision-makers. It is a significant step towards comprehensive protection and use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The Agreement establishes a number of subsidiary bodies and mechanisms for its implementation: a scientific and technical body, providing science and knowledge advice in the process; a clearing house mechanism as a centralized data sharing platform, a financial mechanism, and various committees on benefit-sharing, capacity building and technology transfer, and implementation and compliance. Science and knowledge play a crucial role in the implementation of the agreement and are the focus of this course.  

Course overview and objectives

This online training introduces the BBNJ Agreement and focuses on the role that ocean science and knowledge play for its implementation, including implications for the global community and opportunities for science, services and management in and about ABNJ. 

The course aims to support individuals and institutions of diverse groups in understanding the scientific realities of the ocean and data sharing opportunities (i.e. across maritime zones between countries and different ocean depths; between the Exclusive Economic Zones and High Seas; and across sectors and geographical regions for enhanced cooperation and coordination with and among other instruments, frameworks and bodies). 

The use of science and knowledge on the ocean and its marine ecosystems are particularly evident in operationalization of the Agreement’s processes to assess potential impacts on the marine environment of planned activities, including in considerations for strategic environmental assessments and when assessing cumulative impacts, as well as in the establishment of area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, in the efforts to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity through geographical tools in a dynamic, connected and changing ocean. Additionally, understanding capacity needs, accessing existing capacity building and technology transfer initiatives, provided by different institutions and linking different types of ocean data and information can strengthen our knowledge on marine biodiversity in an interconnected ocean. 

Format and Duration

This is a self-paced online course, comprising various learning resources, activities and assessments, with a total of 20 hours estimated for completion.

Language of instruction: English

Learning outcomes

Course content

The course is composed of three online modules: 

Module 1. Introduction to marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, which provides an overview of natural environment of the open ocean, existing ocean governance framework, and the related ocean science and knowledge.

M1-Lesson 1. Life in the Sea: A connected and changing ocean

M1-Lesson 2. Ocean Biodiversity Governance

M1-Lesson 3. Global Ocean Science & Knowledge

Module 2. BBNJ Agreement in Practice, which covers elements & aims of the Agreement, technical competencies needed for its operationalization across all pillars, and needs and priorities for ocean science.

M2-Lesson 1. Marine Genetic Resources

M2-Lesson 2.  Area-Based Management Tools, including Marine Protected Areas

M2-Lesson 3. Environmental Impact Assessment

M2-Lesson 4. Capacity Building and Transfer of Marine Technology

M2-Lesson 5. Cross-cutting topics

Module 3. Actors, Mechanisms, Data Sharing and Tools under the BBNJ Agreement, which covers opportunities for individuals and nations, pathways for strengthening cooperation and coordination in the implementation of the Agreement, reflections on emerging technologies, and the intrinsic value of marine biodiversity.

M3-Lesson 1. Ocean Cooperation

M3-Lesson 2. Overview of Instruments, Frameworks, and Bodies

M3-Lesson 3. Potential opportunities to engage

M3-Lesson 4. Data and Tools supporting BBNJ Agreement

M3-Lesson 5. Emerging ocean technologies

M3-Lesson 6.  The inherent value of marine biodiversity 

Target audience

This course was developed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), in support of the joint training activities of the Ocean Decade Capacity Development Facility (CDF) and the OceanTeacher Global Academy (OTGA). 

The learning materials compile ocean science data, information, and knowledge available globally in support of BBNJ Agreement, supplemented by consultations and contributions of invited experts, institutions, and national authorities worldwide.

Facilitators

This training was developed with the assistance of Dr. Ina Tessnow-Von Wysocki, in collaboration with NaYeon Kim, Dr. Ana Carolina Mazzuco, and Sophie Guibert. 

Learning materials were complemented by various Expert Contributions through interviews or lectures, including: Abbe Brown, Adel Heenan, Abdi Tunggal Priyanto, Adel Heenan, Aimée Komugabe-Dixson, Alice McDonald, Aline Kuehl-Stenzel, Amehr Hakim, Anna Metaxas, Ashley Dias, Becky Hitchin, Carlos A. Zuniga, Aurelie Spadone, Clement Mulalap, Cong Bailin, Daniel Kachelriess, David Johnson, Fuad Bateh, Gerald Singh, Harriet Harden-Davies, Hugo Gorziglia, Jaqueline Espenilla, Joelle Richard, Jodi Edwards, Julian Barbierie, Júlia Schütz Veiga, Karen Evans, Laurent Chmiel, Linlin Zhao, Lisa Levin, Lowri Griffiths, Marcel Jaspars, Makrita Solitei, Melissa Abderrahim, Michelle Bender, Olaf Meynecke, Paul DeBruyn, Paul Snelgrove, Peter Burger, Quentin Hanich, Robert Blasiak, Sarah Lothian, Shenghao Liu, Susan Gardner, Thomas Vanagt, Ward Appeltans, Yafeng Yang, and Youngdawng Moh.

Registration, costs, and technological requirements

This course is offered on a continuous basis, with open registrations as yearly cohorts, with no tuition fees.

To follow this course, participants shall have: 

Assessment & Certificate

This course contains self-paced automated online knowledge checks and assessments. 

In order to successfully complete the course and be awarded a certificate, the following are mandatory: 

• Complete all modules and lessons.  
• Complete all quizzes (80% pass mark, 3 attempts). 
• Complete the pre and post-assessment questionaries. 
• Submit the feedback survey. 

Contacts

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

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.