A competence framework, built specifically for educators working in coastal communities, is now available.
The Erasmus+ Stories of the Sea project has launched a fresh, practical Framework designed to help trainers bring coastal sustainability to life in vocational, community, and public learning. What sets this Framework apart is its unique focus: it is a European learning framework specifically created for educators working in coastal regions and for those teaching sustainability challenges faced by coastal communities.
Introducing the new resource, the project’s lead partner emphasised its value for organisations working in coastal areas:
“With this Framework, we aim to provide a clear, adaptable structure that supports trainers and organisations in strengthening coastal resilience. It offers a shared foundation for building more inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready coastal communities across Europe.”
The Stories of the Sea (SoS) Framework offers an inviting, easy-to-use approach that connects ecological, social, and economic perspectives, all rooted in the everyday realities of coastal life.
The SoS Framework Compass
Built around three dimensions, COAST (ecological stewardship), CARE (social wellbeing and inclusion), and COMMONS (fair and sustainable coastal economies), the Framework helps learners understand the full picture of what makes coastal regions thrive.
To support trainers, the Framework includes four enablers, systems thinking, collaboration, imagination, and experimentation, that turn sustainability concepts into engaging, hands-on learning experiences. It also comes with clear competence levels, practical real-world examples, and a simple self-assessment tool to help plan and track learning.
Check out the Brochure (pdf) — designed for trainers, educators, and organisations seeking an accessible overview.
Explore the Full Framework (pdf)
By focusing explicitly on coastal contexts, where climate impacts, tourism pressures, biodiversity loss, and economic transitions converge, the Framework gives trainers a tool that is both highly relevant and immediately applicable.
