Strengthening Academic Collaboration Across the North Sea

At the WECP Annual General Meeting in Calgary, Mayor Jesper Frost Rasmussen of Esbjerg initiated discussions with representatives from Aberdeen, Stavanger, and Groningen about expanding academic collaboration around the North Sea.

The meeting participants included Vice-mayor Phillip Broeksma representing Groningen, Councillor Miranda Radley speaking for Aberdeen, and Head of Economic Development and International Affairs Anne Woie participating on behalf of Stavanger.

The four North Sea cities share important similarities that form the foundation for this collaboration. Each has strong roots in the energy sector and is navigating the transition from oil and gas towards renewable energy. Each hosts significant clusters of energy companies and universities that drive skills development. And each occupies a strategic location on the North Sea, serving as both gateways to global energy markets and anchors for regional cooperation.

Building on Existing Partnership

The discussion builds directly on an existing partnership between Stavanger and Esbjerg. Earlier this year, Esbjerg Municipality, Education Esbjerg, Stavanger Municipality, and the University of Stavanger signed an agreement to strengthen regional education opportunities and address the growing need for skilled professionals. The four cities agreed that this existing framework could serve as a foundation for the broader North Sea collaboration.

Next Steps

Following the Calgary meeting, concrete steps have been outlined to move the initiative forward:

• The four mayors will jointly draft and send a collaborative letter to all involved parties
• Each city will quickly appoint a representative to discuss how the cooperation can be implemented
• The group will examine existing activities and collaborations already taking place at the academic level
• The expanded partnership will build upon the Stavanger-Esbjerg agreement while incorporating the strengths and expertise of Aberdeen and Groningen

The Danish delegation proposed broadening the scope to include not only academic cooperation but also vocational education. This expanded vision received unanimous support from all four cities.

As Mayor Jesper Frost Rasmussen of Esbjerg and President of WECP has emphasized, the green transition is ultimately dependent on people and competencies. Through this strengthened cooperation, the North Sea cities aim to ensure that the next generation of talent – in both academic and vocational fields – is ready to deliver the solutions needed for the energy transition.