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Cruise School on Artificial Intelligence for Technological & Social Change
22–29 January 2027 | Mediterranean Sea
An international and interdisciplinary academic programme exploring how Artificial Intelligence is transforming technology, organisations and society.
Eight days of lectures, workshops, collaborative projects, international networking and Mediterranean travel in a unique learning environment at sea.
Artificial Intelligence, Technology and Social Change
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing the way organisations operate, technologies are designed, decisions are made and societies evolve.
Understanding these transformations requires more than a purely technical perspective.
The Cruise School brings together technology, management, economics, social sciences and humanities to examine Artificial Intelligence from complementary perspectives and connect academic knowledge with real-world challenges.
Participants learn from international experts, exchange ideas across disciplines and work together throughout the cruise.
An Interdisciplinary Academic Programme
The academic programme combines a shared foundation with different perspectives on technological and social transformation.
AI, Data & Futures Studies
All participants follow a common core focused on Artificial Intelligence, data, emerging technologies and futures thinking.
The objective is to provide a shared conceptual framework and a common language for participants coming from different disciplines.
Technological Change
This perspective explores how AI and digital technologies are transforming engineering, production systems, organisations, innovation and industrial processes.
Topics connect technological development with practical applications and organisational change.
Social Change
This perspective examines the broader implications of technological transformation for society, institutions, work, governance, ethics and public decision-making.
Participants are encouraged to analyse AI not only as a technology, but also as a driver of economic and social transformation.
Learning Through Projects
The Cruise School is designed around active participation.
Before and during the cruise, participants engage in academic preparation, discussions and collaborative activities that connect theoretical concepts with practical challenges.
Interdisciplinary teams develop Studio Projects, combining different skills, perspectives and professional backgrounds.
The programme concludes with a Final Academic Showcase, where participants present and discuss the results of their work.
A University Experience at Sea
The Cruise School is not a traditional classroom-based programme.
The ship becomes a temporary international campus where lectures, workshops, collaborative work and informal discussions take place throughout the journey.
Living and travelling together creates additional opportunities for interaction between participants, faculty members and professionals.
Academic activities are complemented by the experience of travelling across the Mediterranean and discovering different destinations along the itinerary.
The result is an intensive environment designed to encourage learning, collaboration, networking and interdisciplinary exchange.
Who Can Participate?
The Cruise School is designed for an international and multidisciplinary community.
It is open to:
- PhD candidates;
- Master’s students;
- researchers and postdoctoral fellows;
- university professors and staff;
- professionals and managers;
- industry and innovation experts.
Participants from STEM, social sciences and humanities are welcome.
No specific disciplinary background is required. Diversity of expertise is an essential part of the learning experience.
An International Learning Community
Participants have the opportunity to interact with people from different universities, disciplines, professional environments and countries.
This creates a setting where academic knowledge can be compared with industrial and organisational experience, while different approaches to Artificial Intelligence and technological transformation can be discussed together.
Networking is therefore integrated into the academic experience rather than treated as a separate activity.
Cruise School 2027 at a Glance
22–29 January 2027
8 days / 7 nights
Mediterranean Sea
The programme includes academic activities, interdisciplinary projects, international networking and the cruise experience.
ECTS and certification opportunities are available within the academic framework of the initiative.
Participants may also be able to use Erasmus+ or other institutional funding opportunities, depending on the rules and eligibility requirements of their home institution.
Building on Previous Editions
The 2027 Cruise School continues an initiative developed through previous international editions.
Over the years, the programme has brought together students, researchers, academics and professionals in an interdisciplinary environment combining education, collaboration and international exchange.
The new edition builds on this experience while expanding the focus on Artificial Intelligence and its technological and social implications.
Related Academic Initiatives
The Cruise School is connected with a broader academic environment involving education, research, innovation and international collaboration.
Related initiatives include postgraduate education, European projects and opportunities for PhD students to develop and present their research.
Join the Cruise School 2027
A week dedicated to Artificial Intelligence, interdisciplinary learning, applied projects and international exchange — while travelling across the Mediterranean.
Applications are open to participants from academic, professional and industrial backgrounds.
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