Asterousia Summer University 2025
"Natural and Cultural Heritage in Biosphere Reserves and other Designated Sites in the Mediterranean"
- PHASE A (live): 28 October - 01 November 2025, for about 25 participants, in and around the Asterousia BR
- YEARLY THEME FOCUS: Natural and Cultural heritage
- TARGET AUDIENCE: Post graduate, educators, scientists and junior managers studying or working in existing or candidate BRs, Natura 2000 sites & other designated sites
- PRIORITY: South-East Europe and North Mediterranean countries.
DOWNLOAD THE CONCEPT NOTE FOR THE ASTEROUSIA UNIVERSITY 2025
THE AGENDA
A draft daily programme is available at https://medies.net/asterousia-university-2025-call-for-applications/
It is provisioned that Arrivals (travel day) is Tuesday 28 October 2025 and Departure (travel day) is on Saturday 1st November 2025.
PARTICIPANTS' PROFILE
The profile of tha target group that will most benefit from such a course includes Post graduate students, Educators, Young scientists and managers, studying or working (or otherwise engaged) in existing, candidate or potential Biosphere Reserves, Geo-parks, and connected Natura 2000 and other designated areas.
Priority will be given to participants from the South-East Europe and North Mediterranean.
SELECTION CRITERIA
An estimated number of 15 international as well as 10 national and local trainees will be accepted. If applications exceed this number the participants will be selected based on country, connection to an existing or candidate BR, and relevance of their CV.
FEES
A symbolic registration fee of 100 EUR will apply for the selected trainees to secure their position. Local participants not requiring travel and accommodation will be exempt of fees. This fee should be deposited to the MIO-ECSDE bank account upon selection in order to confirm participation and proceed with ticket and hotel reservations.
With the kind support of the organisers of the Asterousia University, the following expenses of selected trainees will be covered:
- Flights to Crete and local transports.
- Accommodation with breakfast (participants may be accommodated in shared rooms).
- Lunches and coffe breaks.
- Local transports within the Asterousia BR
- WiFi equipped meeting/workshops rooms, meeting folder/material.
- Translation costs for the few sessions that will be held in Greek language.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
Deadline for application is: 10/09/2025 (but the sooner you apply the better for organisation purposes)
APPLICATIONS
Only dully completed online applications will be accepted. To fill in the form, on the top of this webpage select 1 (Quantity) and REGISTER.
CERTIFICATION
The trainees successfully completing the Hybrid University will be awarded a certificate of participation provided by the UNESCO Regional Bureau and the UNESCO Chair Sustainable Development Management and Education in the Mediterranean of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
ORGANISERS
The Asterousia Univeristy is co-organised and supported by:
  | The Region of Crete |
 | The Heraklion Development Agency |
 | The Asterousia MAB Local Committee (TEDA) |
 | The UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe |
 | The UNESCO Chair and Network on Sustainable Development Management and Education in the Mediterranean of the University of Athens |
 | The Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (www.mio-ecsde.org) through its education initiative MEdIES (www.medies.net). |