Nearly 1,200 participants from 111 countries join OPERA’s free MOOC on the fundamentals of ocean forecasting
- Jul 27
- 3 min read
COTONOU, Benin - July 27, 2026. Today, 1,162 participants from 111 countries begin OPERA Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Set 1: Fundamentals of Ocean Forecasting, on the FutureLearn platform. The scale of the enrolment reflects both the enthusiasm the project has generated and its reach - regional and global alike.
Of the 1,162 enrolled participants, 770 – close to two-thirds – reside in Africa, across 41 countries, while 392 come from the rest of the world. Benin, Nigeria and Cameroon are the most represented countries, alongside Brazil and Indonesia. Nearly 40% hold a master’s degree or a doctorate, reflecting the academic level and the diversity of this inaugural group.
“This MOOC is an invitation to change the way we look at ocean forecasting. For too long, this science has seemed out of reach. Today, we are showing that anyone, anywhere, can understand how the ocean works and learn to anticipate its behavior, and that is exactly what the world needs,” said Dr Babette C. Tchonang, Scientific and Technical Lead for OPERA’s Capacity Development Activities.
A learning journey through the entire ocean forecasting chain
The course follows the ETOOFS Guide, a reference manual on “Implementing Operational Ocean Monitoring and Forecasting Systems”. It was funded and produced by the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and its Expert Team on Operational Ocean Forecasting Systems (ETOOFS), and Mercator Ocean International.
Spread over seven sequential modules and seven weeks - around 21 hours of content - the course opens with an overview of the ocean forecasting system, then moves through the physical principles that govern ocean circulation, numerical modelling, observing systems and data assimilation, before arriving at real-world applications in fisheries, coastal management, maritime safety and environmental policy.
“Learners explore satellite and in-situ observing systems - Argo floats, moored buoys and high-frequency radars - as well as the data-assimilation techniques used to calibrate models in real time. The course is taught in English, with French subtitles and transcripts. Participants who complete the course and pass its assessments receive a recognised certificate, issued through FutureLearn and accredited by the ICMPA–UNESCO Chair (CIPMA),” Dr Tchonang added.
From this global community, 500 participants have been selected, on the strength of their applications, to form a dedicated cohort. The team accompanies them from the first module to the last: weekly live sessions give learners a direct line to the team, and regular guidance helps them turn each module into skills they can apply in their own countries.
Beyond the cohort, a further selection will be offered the opportunity to go deeper. The strongest participants will be invited to take part in three dedicated webinars and a three-day online workshop, where they will work hands-on with instructors on advanced practical exercises. Participants who complete this advanced track will receive a certificate issued by the Université de Toulouse, in recognition of the additional level of engagement and expertise demonstrated.
A teaching team from around the world
Behind this MOOC, ten researchers and educators, based in Benin, Cameroon, France, Italy, Spain and the United States - brought their expertise together to build a rigorous, engaging program grounded in real-world practice, spanning numerical modelling, satellite and in-situ observation, coastal management and fisheries.
The team brings together Stefania Ciliberti (Nologin Oceanic Weather Systems, Spain); Gaël Alory and Nicholas Hall (University of Toulouse, France); Serena Illig (IRD, France); Emanuela Clementi (CMCC, Italy); Fernand Assene (University of Ebolowa, Cameroon); Frédéric Bonou (ICMPA–UNESCO Chair, Benin); and, in the United States, Ebenezer Nyadjro (Mississippi State University), A. Nathanael Dossa (University of Miami) and Babette C. Tchonang (Florida State University).
learners can immediately connect what they are learning to the real challenges around them - whether they are a fisher, a coastal manager, a scientist or a student,” said Frédéric Bonou, researcher and lecturer at the ICMPA–UNESCO Chair (CIPMA), University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
Developed as part of OPERA’s capacity-building activities under the framework of the OceanPrediction DCC, this course is led by the ICMPA– NESCO Chair (Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Benin) and the Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS).
About OPERA
OPERA (Ocean Prediction Enhancement in the Regions of Africa) is a five-year project implemented by Mercator Ocean International with funding from the European Union under the ArcX programme (Africa Regional Centres of Excellence).
Link to the MOOC Set 1: Fundamentals of Ocean Forecasting : https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/fundamentals-of-ocean-forecasting
More information on OPERA is available at:
Press Contacts
ICMPA-UNESCO Chair
Odette M. ATEYIHO
Communication officer
Email : odette_ateyiho@icmpa.net
Mercator Ocean International & OceanPrediction DCC
Yandeh Sallah-Muhammed
Communications & User Engagement Officer
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