ZMT - Leibniz Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung

The STABLE project – “Higher Education Partnership for a Sustainable Blue Economy” – is a three-year collaboration (2025–2027) that brings together leading universities and research institutions from Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany, and the Netherlands. STABLE aims to modernize postgraduate education and strengthen practical research on sustainable marine resource management, bridging academic knowledge with real-world needs.

The project is led by IPB, Indonesia’s leading university in the field of marine sciences, through its Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FFMS). Partner institutions include the University of Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), University of Groningen in the Netherlands, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg in Germany, and the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) in Bremen, Germany.

STABLE focuses on updating and aligning postgraduate curricula in coastal and marine management to current scientific standards and the needs of a sustainable Blue Economy. It will provide advanced training for lecturers and researchers, offer joint research opportunities and field stays in Indonesia for students, and create space for joint international conferences and publications.

The project focuses on five key areas of collaboration:

• Updating and improving postgraduate program structure
• Providing advanced training, courses and summer schools
• Facilitating student research on Blue Economy topics
• Organizing international knowledge exchange
• Disseminating research results through real field practice

Activities include collaborative workshops, summer schools in Indonesia, advanced training sessions in Germany, and symposia to share research results. Field stays in the unique ecosystem of the Derawan Islands will provide real-world research opportunities and foster international teamwork. To ensure lasting impact, newly developed curricula and teaching materials will be disseminated beyond the project cluster.

By engaging local communities, transferring knowledge about sustainable practices, supporting the development of locally-led conservation initiatives, and promoting the Blue Economy, the project will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 14: Life Below Water.

STABLE aims to build lasting bridges between institutions, communities, and policymakers, ensuring that the modernized curricula and new research collaborations will have a positive, long-term impact on marine conservation and sustainable livelihoods.