Crédit photo : Emmanuel Berthier
The SEA-EU alliance holds a consortium meeting every six months, called a Governing Week. The University of Brest (UBO) will be hosting the next biannual meeting, which will take place in Brest on the 9th, 10th, and 11th of June 2026.
Three pillars of UBO's presidency of the alliance
By taking on the presidency of the alliance, I wish that the University of Brest plays its part, by contributing to this wonderful project, and, as such, I wish to place the emphasis on the three aspects that I regard as essential; research, joint degrees and sustainability.
Pascal Olivard, Recteur of the University of Brest (UBO)
We must create the conditions to ensure our colleagues, the actors in research, are fully mobilised. And for this, we already possess one major asset: the work carried out within the framework of “ReSEArch-EU”, which allowed us to map our research activities. We now need to exploit these results. This will be the first line of action that I intend to work on during this presidency, in conjunction with the Joint Research Office.
The aim will be to move from concept to possible implementation, subject to the approval of the Rectors' Council. Ocean Health has been identified as the primary unifying theme for this initiative.
The University of Brest, after hosting the first cohort of the SEA-EU Master programme STORM this September, has begun working on the next joint Master’s degree related to health in a highly state-of-the art field and which is acclaimed, well beyond our borders.
This semester, the University of Brest commits itself to be at the forefront on the implementation of the SEA-EU charter for a "Sustainable future". Actions and initiatives will be undertaken to implement SEA-EU sustainability project to its fullest extent.
Shaping the Future of the Alliance
The Governing Week is a major event for the Alliance, bringing together governing bodies of the SEA-EU alliance, funded by the European Universities Initiative under Erasmus+. It brings together the administrative and teaching staff, Vice-Rectors and Rectors of all partner universities allowing them to meet physically to measure progress, celebrate joint achievements and pave the way for the future.
Governing Week Schedule
Please see below an overview of the week's activities.
Hosted by The Faculty of Humanities, Victor Segalen
20 rue Duquesne, Brest
- 9:00 - 13:00: Technical Working Group / Vice-Rectors Committee / Student Council / Quality and Ethics Committee / Exploration of Brest’s major economic actors led by Brest Metropole (Ports, Cities, Stakeholders)
- 13:15: Lunch at the Faculty - room A009 (ground floor)
- 14:30 - 16:30: Joint Technical Working Group & Work Package Leaders Meeting / Work Package Leaders Focus Group / Student Council / Quality and Ethics Committee / Cities Council / Ports Council (online only) / Stakeholders Group
- 18:00: Welcome drinks and finger food at La PAM Food Court.
Hosted by The Faculty of Humanities, Victor Segalen
20 rue Duquesne, Brest
- 9:00 - 10:45: Opening Session : Status Report from the General Coordinator of the Alliance
- 11:00 - 12:30: Rector’s Meeting / Executive Committee / City’s Walking Tour (Student Council; QEC, TWG), Workshop (Cities, Ports, Stakeholders)
- 12:45: Traditional Breton lunch at the Faculty. A specific lunch will be arranged for Rectors.
- 14:15 - 16:30: Rector’s Meeting / Executive Committee / Student Council
- 19:00: Reception cocktail at Brest City Hall
Hosted by the Medecine Faculty, IBRBS Research Institute
20 Avenue Foch, Brest
- 9:00 - 12:00: Governing Board
- 12:00: Lunch at IBRBS
- 13:00 - 15:00: Governing Board & closing session
- 19:00: Closing dinner at Ac’hann. For Rectors, a specific evening is planned.
Detailed schedules
University members
Cities, Ports, Stakeholders and Associate Partners
Rectors
For those requiring an invitation letter, please contact Brest SEA-EU office.
Practical Information
The Governing Week meetings will take place at two main sites within easy walking distance of most city-center hotels. From June 2026, the brand new Tramway Line B will also provide direct connection to both venues.
Official Name: Faculté des Lettres et Sciences Humaines Victor Segalen
Address : 20 Rue Duquesne, 29200 Brest
Walking: A 5 to 10-minute walk from the main hotels.
Tramway: Line B (Stop: "CHU Morvan"). This stop is located right at the back of the main entrance of the faculty.
Bus: Several bus lines also serve this location with multiple stops nearby.
Official Names: Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé & Institut Brestois de Recherche en Biologie et Santé - IBRBS
Address: 12 Avenue Foch, 29200 Brest
Walking: 10–15 minutes from the central hotels.
Tramway: Line B (Stop: "Albert 1er"). This stop is just one station after "CHU Morvan".
Bus: Several bus lines also serve this location with multiple stops nearby.
Getting around in Brest
We recommend using our Governing Week interactive map to check the distance and best itinerary from your hotel to the venues.
For checking bus and tram schedules you can consult the Bibus website.
Reaching Brest by Train
The "Green" Connection: Paris to Brest
A flight between Paris and Brest emits about 114.5 kg of CO₂.
If your itinerary does not allow you to complete your entire journey by rail, you can fly into Paris and finish the last leg of your trip by train. This significantly reduces the environmental impact of your travel.
Two options to get to Brest from Paris by train
From Paris City Center: There are approximately 12 to 14 trains departing daily, primarily from Gare Montparnasse. The high-speed TGV is the most efficient option, reaching Brest in as little as 3h 30m. Check the RATP website to plan your itinerary.
Getting to Montparnasse from Paris airports:
- From Orly: Metro Line 14 (connecting to Line 4 at Châtelet tube station). Taxis and the OrlyBus are also available.
- From Charles de Gaulle: RER (Express Railway) line B or taxi.
There are about 5 to 6 daily connections from the airport station (Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV). This allows you to land and hop on a train without leaving the airport.
Duration: Approximately 5 hours.
Your Arrival in Brest
The Brest SNCF Station, located in the city center, offers easy access to buses and trams. It is also within walking distance of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Faculté des Lettres et Sciences Humaines), where most of the Governing Week meetings will take place.
Alternative: Flying to Nantes (NTE)
Direct flights to Nantes are available from Naples, Faro, Split et Cadiz (via Seville). From Nantes to Brest you can take the Airport Shuttle to the Nantes Railway Station (Gare de Nantes). Trains to Brest run frequently throughout the day. It is a scenic ride across Southern Brittany, taking approximately 3h 30m.
We have selected several hotels located within walking distance of the event venues to make your stay more convenient.
You can find bellow the list along with their average nightly rates:
- Hôtel IBIS Brest Centre *** (~95€)
- The Originals Boutique, Hôtel de la Paix **** (~125€)
- Hôtel Oceania Brest Centre **** (~130€)
- Hôtel & Spa Oceania Le Conti **** (~145€)
To see their exact location and proximity to the venues, please consult our interactive map.
To help you organise your stay at Brest for the Governing Week, we have designed this interactive map to be your all-in-one resource for logistics and discovery.
- Organise your journey: Find the main transport hubs, including the train station and Tramway Line stops.
- Choose your hotel: View the best-located hotels within walking distance of our meeting venues.
- Enjoy your free time: Discover "must-see" locations !
Immerse yourself in the creative spirit of the SEA-EU Alliance and discover the city of Brest. We will offer you a selection of experiences to help you connect with our host city and the diverse talents within our SEA-EU community.
Art exhibitions
Explore two distinct exhibitions featuring works from students and staff across the SEA-EU Alliance.
SEA-EU photo contest exhibition
“After All - After Oil”
room A009 - ground floor - Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Students and staff from across SEA-EU alliance were invited to explore the transformations in our societies and landscapes, to imagine our future world. This exhibition presents some of the artworks submitted.
(Very) Big data
"Les Abords" Exhibition Gallery
Launched in autumn 2025, the «(Very) Big Data!» competition invited members of the
SEA-EU Alliance to submit their most unique scientific data visualizations.
Take a look at these monumental prints and a curated selection of smaller pieces at the 'Les Abords' exhibition space, located on the edge of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
Brest city walking tour
To get to know Brest and its history better, a Brest Walking Tour will be organised. You will have the chance to learn all sorts of fascinating facts about the city of Ponant, whilst having a great time.
Brest, France’s westernmost city, often mocked for its rainy weather, has a unique charm and atmosphere and requires a bit of context to truly appreciate it. Almost completely destroyed at the end of the Second World War, the city’s streets still bear the marks of its military past and present, but recently the city has been enjoying a new lease of life. From Place de la Liberté to the Plateau des Capucins and its urban cable car, we’ll walk through Brest’s culture, past and present, and learn more about its stunning architecture, its fascinating history and anecdotes about its residents.
A taste of Breton culture and identity
During the three days of the Governing Week, you will also have a taste of our Breton culture and heritage...
Brest: intense, maritime and breton!
At the tip of Brittany, Brest is a modern, dynamic city in perpetual motion. A place where urban effervescence rubs shoulders with the slow living of the sea, where you can go from a suit and tie on the tramway to a wetsuit and paddle in less than 30 minutes. Brest is also about the future, with an intense scientific culture directly linked to the sea, and real concerns for tomorrow’s environmental issues.
We have listed for you the best spots in and around the city to explore during your free time. Please refer to our interactive map to see their exact locations and plan your route.
You can also visit the Brest Tourist Office website or follow their latest updates on social media.
Registrations are now closed. We look forward to welcoming you to Brest.
The questionnaire takes about 5 minutes. If you have already booked your tickets, please have them ready before you begin.