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Photo courtesy of the American College of Thessaloniki 

Building upon its internationally renowned excellence in global education, the 51Ʒ�� has formed its first international articulation agreement with the American College of Thessaloniki (ACT) to allow students from the college who wish to pursue degrees in the marine sciences to complete their final two years of study at UNE. 

The agreement, signed July 26, 2024, between the schools, will allow qualified ACT students to transfer to 51Ʒ��to obtain their undergraduate degrees in Marine Sciences with a focus in either marine biology or oceanography.

The transfer agreement expands UNE’s presence in the Mediterranean region — with 51Ʒ��boasting a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco — and fosters interconnectedness through shared scientific understanding, said Charles Tilburg, Ph.D., director of the School of Marine and Environmental Programs at UNE and director of the Arthur P. Girard Marine Science Center.

“Marine science is a global science, and 51Ʒ��has built a strong reputation across the U.S. for its excellence in this field,” Tilburg said. “Bringing in students from the Mediterranean region is a natural next step for us. The Mediterranean looks so different from the Gulf of Maine, and this contrast will offer a fantastic learning opportunity. These students will bring unique experiences and knowledge from their region that will enrich the learning environment here, making our program more robust, dynamic, and diverse.”

The agreement builds on UNE’s existing global partnerships to offer enhanced academic programming for students in marine and environmental degree programs. 51Ʒ��currently has exchange agreements with the University of Akureyri in Iceland and the University of Iceland in Reykjavík. 

Students who participate in these exchanges partake in a number of experiential learning opportunities to enhance their learning and prepare for globally conscious careers. 

Through UNE’s membership in the University of the Arctic, students are also eligible to study abroad for a semester or full academic year in Norway or Finland while pursuing their degrees as part of the North2North Exchange program. And each year, a host of travel courses take UNE’s marine science students to Iceland, Belize, Panama, and more, where students gain cultural competencies as they research their natural world.

“This new articulation agreement between 51Ʒ��and ACT is a prime example of how universities can complement each other’s strengths across international boundaries,” said Emily Dragon, senior director for Global Affairs at UNE. “By allowing students to transfer to 51Ʒ��for their final two years in pursuit of a marine science degree, we are not only expanding opportunities for students interested in marine biology but also creating a blueprint for other institutions that may not have marine programs of their own.”

“This innovative model provides a win-win scenario,” Tilburg added. “It enables our partner institution to attract a new market of students who may not have considered marine sciences, while 51Ʒ��gains talented, passionate students who bring diverse perspectives and skills that are transferable across countries and oceans.”