AUB Mediterraneo Hosts “Mediterranean Bridges of Sustainability”: A Two-Day Calabria–Cyprus Collaboration on Innovation, Culture, and the SDGs
Pafos, Cyprus – December 3, 2025: The American University of Beirut - Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) hosted a two-day programme titled “Mediterranean Bridges of Sustainability: Voices and Territories of Calabria,” bringing together Calabrian innovators, students, and faculty to explore new forms of Mediterranean cooperation in sustainability and territorial development. The initiative forms part of the experiential course “17 Ways to Rethink the World,” led by Professor Claudia Franzè, in collaboration with Dr. Georgios Charalambous, Dr. Noura El Hassan, and Ms. Maria Kamenias.
Four territorial leaders from Calabria participated in the programme: Roberto Tesoriere, CEO of Agricoltura Bio Tesoriere, Alfredo Moniaci, president of Boschi Puliti, Marco Frascà, president of Mondo Parallelo, and Maurizio Iori, CEO of IG Calabria and community manager of IG Italia and IG Europa. Together with AUB Mediterraneo students, they explored practical applications of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with emphasis on SDG 17 (Partnerships), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
Workshops held on campus focused on co-designing Cyprus–Calabria collaborations in sustainable agriculture, forest and marine protection, and digital innovation. Student proposals included joint environmental initiatives, digital platforms for eco-tourism and community engagement, and cross-Mediterranean cultural projects.
The programme also included field activities in Pikni Forest and Coral Bay, where participants engaged in a forest clean-up, removing nearly 50 kg of waste, and studied coastal vegetation and ecosystem protection.
“This initiative shows how education, sustainability, and territorial collaboration can reinforce one another,” said Professor Claudia Franzè. “Our students had the opportunity to work directly with practitioners who are shaping innovative approaches to environmental stewardship in the Mediterranean.”
The collaboration has opened pathways for potential student internships, joint projects, and future exchange activities between Cyprus and Calabria.
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About The American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo
The American University of Beirut – Mediterraneo (AUB Mediterraneo) in Pafos, Cyprus, is approved by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) as a branch campus of the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Beirut, Lebanon. AUB operates under a charter granted by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) which registers the university’s degree programs. All departments and programs at AUB Mediterraneo are accredited in Europe and Cyprus through the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Higher Education (CYQAA) and recognized globally.
