ZMT - Leibniz Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung

The International Ocean Institute (IOI), an independent, non-profit NGO, offers global capacity-building trainings. It aims to train young and mid-career practitioners in contemporary approaches to coastal and ocean management, with an emphasis on ethical, legal, and equitable ocean governance. In 2002, ZMT has been hosting the German IOI Center.  Together, IOI and ZMT are creating a global network that goes beyond science and takes a comprehensive approach to addressing ocean and coastal issues through education, training and research – with interdisciplinary projects that combine natural and social sciences. T

he German IOI Centre hosts Summer and Winter Schools, including the regularly held Monsoon School on Impact, Co-Design and Transdisciplinarity, held in 2022, 2023, and upcoming in 2025. This ten-day course brings together early-career scientists – especially from the Global South – to co-design impactful, transdisciplinary research projects. Participants engage with tools and frameworks for equitable collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and science communication, applying them directly to projects.

ZMT regularly offers the IOI Ocean Governance Schools (Summer and Winter School) for Sustainable Marine Social-Ecological Systems, held in 2020, 2022, and 2024. These courses provide hybrid learning environments where participants gain a foundation in ocean governance and sustainable development through diverse, international teamwork. Through lectures, expert input, and guided group work, these trainings foster practical experience. Together, the courses contribute to regional and sector-wide capacity building, supporting the UN Ocean Decade by preparing a new generation of professionals to lead inclusive, sustainable ocean solutions.

Target groups vary across courses and include participants from diverse backgrounds such as master’s students, postdoctoral scientists, early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs), local policymakers, NGO managers, and community representatives.

Through these programs, IOI and ZMT foster a skilled new generation of ocean professionals ready to tackle marine challenges. By promoting co-design and transdisciplinary approaches, these courses support the UN Ocean Decade and sustainable ocean governance worldwide.

IOI Germany will also offer free, online IOI Academy Courses, 20-hour modules overseen by IOI and delivered by local experts in local languages. These courses offer “Ocean knowledge for all,” enhancing ocean literacy on ocean processes, climate, human activity, and livelihoods. The IOI trainings are developed with the ZMT Academy and ZMT colleagues and led conceptually by Prof. Dr Achim Schlüter, Dr. Tim Jennerjahn (Ocean Governance), and Dr. Sebastian Ferse (Monsoon School).