Masters Programme of Oceanography and Applications (M2SOAC-OA) 2026

The Masters programme of Oceanography and Applications (M2SOAC-OA) hosted by the University of Abomey-Calavi in Cotonou and developed in partnership with Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier, aims to shape the next generation of ocean scientists in Benin. From the 2^nd to the 6^th of March 2026, 10 students participating in this programme attended an intensive week-long course provided by Mercator Ocean International, designed to bridge academic learning with real-world ocean action and ocean governance. Through a combination of presentations, round tables, and hands-on tutorials, the training provided students with an immersive learning experience. 

Throughout the week, students also explored topics ranging from ocean governance within the African and international institutional landscape to operational oceanography through the Copernicus Marine Service, the European Digital Twin of the Ocean/EDITO, including ocean data and AI-driven applications. The sessions were designed not only to deepen technical knowledge but also to highlight how ocean science interacts with policy, institutions, and international cooperation.  

Tony Jolibois (User Services, Mercator Ocean) delivered a full demonstration of the Copernicus Marine MyOcean Viewer Pro which allowed the students to explore a wide range of marine data products and phenomena, like marine heat waves. In another session, they followed a hands-on tutorial on accessing, processing, and analysing data from the Copernicus Marine Data Store using Python, with a focus on practical workflows applicable to real ocean challenges for a region of interest. 

Interactive roundtable discussions formed a key part of the training. The first roundtable focused on African and international institutions involved in ocean science and governance. Among the speakers was Lillian Diarra, Project Manager of the OPERA project at Mercator Ocean International. She presented EU–Africa cooperation programmes such as OPERA in the framework of the Africa Regional Centres of Excellence programme and the OceanPrediction DCC community framework through its regional teams and technical resources. She was joined by Justin Ahanhanzo, a former specialist with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, and Jean-Renaud Bikoe, a diplomat and Foreign Affairs Advisor at the Ministry of External Relations of Cameroon. Their interventions provided insight into the role of international cooperation, African and international institutions, and diplomacy in advancing ocean science and governance.  

A second roundtable highlighted opportunities for capacity development and professional pathways in ocean science. Babette Tchoang, a Cameroonian scientist and alumni of the programme who now works at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, shared her international experience and presented several OPERA capacity development activities, including Massive Online Ocean Courses and advanced training opportunities under development. She also introduced the Gulf of Guinea Ocean Science Summer School, which offers students further opportunities to develop practical skills in ocean science.  Applications are currently open for the second edition of the summer school that will take place in early October 2026. 

Additional perspectives were shared by Jean-Paul Yao N’Goran, a researcher at Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan specialising in biostratigraphy and sedimentology. Representing the Coastal Environment Summer School in Nigeria and Ghana (COESSING), he highlighted the importance of regional training initiatives for strengthening research networks across West Africa. Amadou Bitéye, coordinator of ECOP Senegal and affiliated with the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) also contributed to the discussion, sharing the work of the ECOP Senegal node and opportunities within WASCAL including oceanographic missions on board research vessels. 

Beyond the discussions, students participated in practical tutorials and collaborative project sessions that allowed them to apply scientific tools and data to concrete examples. By connecting scientific, technical, institutional, and policy-oriented perspectives, the week led by Mercator Ocean aims to equip students with the knowledge, networks, and inspiration needed to contribute to the future of ocean research and governance in the global context. This support for the M2SOAC-OA Master’s programme over the past three years highlights the impact of international collaboration in training the next generation of ocean scientists and strengthening capacity in operational oceanography in Africa. 

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