The Evaluation Committee responsible for the selection of participants for the International Summer School “Sustainable Development of the Yachting and Cruise Industry”, scheduled to take place in Kotor, Montenegro from 29 June to 4 July 2026, has formally adopted the evaluation framework and selection criteria for the 2026 edition of the programme.

The Summer School is implemented within the SKILLS project (High LEVEL and market-respondent Competences for a Blue and Digitalized Smart and Skilled South Adriatic) and aims to strengthen competencies related to sustainable nautical and cruise tourism, maritime infrastructure, environmental protection, and Blue Economy development.

Transparent and Merit-Based Selection

Given the limited programme capacity and strong interest from applicants across the South Adriatic region, the Evaluation Committee established a structured assessment methodology to ensure equal treatment, transparency, and objective evaluation of all eligible applications.

Applications were assessed using a weighted scoring model based on five evaluation components:

Evaluation Component / Weight

Motivation and Programme Alignment / 30%

Professional - Academic Relevance / 25%

Baseline Knowledge Test / 20%

English Language Readiness / 15%

Digital Readiness / 10%

The maximum final score was 10 points.

Assessment Areas

The evaluation process considered:

  • applicant motivation and expected use of acquired knowledge;

  • relevance of academic background or professional experience to Blue Economy topics;

  • readiness to participate in an English-language international learning environment;

  • capacity to engage in online learning and digital collaboration tools;

  • baseline knowledge of sustainable tourism, Blue Economy concepts, environmental challenges, and smart maritime technologies.

All applications were reviewed individually and scored against the same evaluation framework.

Regional Balance

In addition to merit-based ranking, the selection process follows the programme's commitment to balanced participation from the four participating territories:

  • Montenegro

  • Albania

  • Puglia (Italy)

  • Molise (Italy)

This regional approach supports one of the core objectives of the SKILLS project: strengthening cross-border cooperation and knowledge exchange within the South Adriatic Blue Economy ecosystem.

Programme Capacity

The 2026 Summer School edition is limited to 20 participants. Following completion of the evaluation process, applicants are classified into three categories:

  • Selected Participants

  • Reserve List

  • Non-Selected Applicants

Reserve list candidates may be invited to participate should selected participants withdraw before the final confirmation deadline.

Commitment to Quality and Fairness

The Evaluation Committee confirms that all applications were assessed exclusively on the basis of the published criteria and information provided in the application form.

The adopted methodology reflects European best practice for lifelong learning and higher education mobility programmes, ensuring a fair, transparent, and evidence-based selection process.

The International Summer School is jointly organised by the Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro, and the Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor, University of Montenegro, in cooperation with Porto Montenegro Marina and the Port of Kotor, within the SKILLS project co-financed by the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme 2021–2027.