CERES INTERNATIONAL ALJEZUR LIMITED

What CERES INTERNATIONAL ALJEZUR LIMITED does

CERES International Aljezur Limited operates a conservation-focused field study centre within the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina in Aljezur, Algarve, Southwest Portugal, founded in 2010 by academics and structured as a private limited company. The company's core operations centre on a 60-hectare privately held terrestrial reserve within the natural park, which underpins its portfolio of field-based experiential learning products: residential field trips for university science departments and secondary schools, IFiT Student Project Weeks (14-day international multidisciplinary programmes awarding 3 ECT credits), Erasmus+ FIELD coordinator training, professional development short courses, and themed workshops in biology, geology/geography, and sport sciences. Service delivery is integrated end-to-end — risk assessments, natural park permits, insured transport, field equipment (microscopes, GPS, clinometers, quadrates, etc.), 24-hour emergency support, and accommodation in the CERES Villa (12–16 person capacity) — addressing the logistical burden that deters academics from organising international field courses.

The business operates on a unit-pricing, pay-as-you-go model anchored in per-person-per-week packages (€249 for school groups, €259 for university groups) with priced supplements (€12 evening meals, €300 full-day workshops, €10/hour driver-guide) and a separate higher-priced tier for 7-day professional courses (€490 Summer Science Expedition; €790 Surfboard Building Course; €1,780 Applied Coastal Conservation and Outdoor Education Coordinator Training). The IFiT Student Project Weeks run at €820 per participant for 14 days. Distribution is direct-to-institution: there are no intermediaries, marketplaces, or resellers; outreach flows through university department contacts, exploratory visits, peer referrals from existing academic clients, and the Erasmus+ programme infrastructure that channels grant-funded European institutional demand. Selected named institutional clients include Newcastle, Portsmouth, Sussex, Plymouth, Leeds, Brighton, Marburg, Aachen (RWTH), and Cork universities, plus Ashbourne, Portsmouth, and Newcastle colleges.

The company is independently operated by its two academic founders (Axel Blamberger and Astrid Blum, listed as company representatives), with no disclosed institutional investors, venture capital backers, or parent company. Strategic moats derive primarily from privileged access to the protected natural park and reserve, deep recurring relationships with named UK, Irish, and German universities, and endorsement from the University of Lisbon, University College Cork, and University of Osnabrück, which confer ECT credit accreditation and lend academic credibility. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; pricing scale, small villa capacity, and academic-operator structure point to a small sub-€5M operation.

Name

CERES INTERNATIONAL ALJEZUR LIMITED

Legal name

CERES International Aljezur ltd.

Website

https://ceresinternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CERES International Aljezur Limited is a privately held academic-run field study centre in Southwest Portugal that delivers residential field trips, professional development courses, and IFiT Student Project Weeks to universities, secondary schools, and individual learners across Europe, leveraging a 60-hectare private reserve within a protected natural park.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Field Trip Packages for Universities and Schools: All-inclusive field trip packages for university science courses and secondary school/college groups, priced per person per week. Includes accommodation, transport, field equipment, risk assessments, permits, and 24-hour emergency assistance. Core pricing from €249/person/week for schools and €259/person/week for universities, with supplementary add-ons for evening meals, workshops, extended stays, and transport.
2. Short Professional Development Courses: High-quality training and career development courses for professionals and academics, including Erasmus+ FIELD coordinator training, IFiT Train-the-Trainers, applied marine conservation, and outdoor education coordinator training. Pricing ranges from €490 (7-day Science Expedition all-inclusive) to €1,780 (7-day Applied Coastal Conservation / Outdoor Education courses). Erasmus+ grants available to cover fees.
3. IFiT Student Project Weeks: 14-day residential international multidisciplinary student research programs covering sustainable forest management, freshwater resources science and management, and coastal science/management/policy. Priced at €820 including accommodation, food, and on-site transport. Students from BSc final year through PhD. Certificates endorsed by University of Lisbon, University College Cork, and University of Osnabrück. 3 ECT credits awarded.
4. Summer Science Expedition: 7-day residential A-level student program for designing and conducting individual research projects in biology, geography, tourism, environmental science, or geology alongside university researchers. All-inclusive price of €490 including accommodation, organic meals, local transport, and expert tuition.
5. Surfboard Building Workshop: 7-day residential surfboard, kiteboard, and skimboard building course including accommodation, all meals, local travel, workshops, use of power tools, and personal protective gear. Introductory price €790 plus optional materials (typically under €200 for a short board build). Participants receive a Certificate of Participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CERES operates an academic-led field study centre in the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina (Aljezur, Portugal) providing all-inclusive residential field trips for university science departments and secondary schools, professional development short courses (Erasmus+ FIELD, IFiT, marine conservation, outdoor education coordinator training), and self-catering group accommodation at the CERES Villa. Each programme bundles logistics, permits, risk assessments, field equipment, transport, and expert tuition into per-person weekly packages.

Product overview

CERES International Aljezur Limited operates as a field study center offering a portfolio of educational and recreational services centered on conservation, environmental research, and low-impact outdoor activities in the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, Portugal. The core offering consists of field study center accommodation at the CERES Villa and structured field trips for universities and colleges. These are supplemented by professional development short courses, specialized subject-specific workshops (biology, geology, sport sciences), and themed programs including Erasmus+ FIELD, IFiT Student Project Weeks, EU Outdoor Education, and EU Marine Conservation courses. Additional offerings include a Summer Science Expedition for A-level students, surfboard building workshops, and work experience placements. Pricing for core university field trips starts at €239/person/week, with professional courses at €490-1780 for 7-day programs and short courses at €300-790.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• University Field Trips
• School and College Field Trips (A-Level / Abitur)
• CERES Villa Field Study Accommodation
• Short Professional Development Courses
• IFiT Student Project Weeks
• Summer Science Expedition
• Surfboard Building Workshop
• Biology Field Workshops
• Geology and Geography Field Workshops
• Sport Sciences Activity Programmes
• Work Experience Placements

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.9 out of 5 average overall satisfaction score across CERES field trips since four years (independent student surveys)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• SeaBaseminorOthersSeaBase is a surfboard manufacturing partner providing materials and equipment for the CERES board building workshop. CERES purchases materials in bulk at trade prices from SeaBase and passes discounts on to course participants.
• Future FinsminorOthersFuture Fins provides fin technology and equipment support for the CERES surfboard building course.
• ProlimitminorOthersProlimit provides watersport equipment support for the CERES surfboard building workshop.
• BIC SurfboardsminorOthersBIC Surfboards provides surfboard equipment support for the CERES board building workshop.
• Surfrider Foundation EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Applied Coastal Conservation course was developed in cooperation with Surfrider Foundation Europe. On completion, participants can qualify as Surfrider Foundation Europe certified Surf Eco-Ambassadors through an optional examination. This partnership provides academic credibility and a recognized professional certification pathway.
• University of LisbonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Lisbon is a co-endorser of the IFiT Student Project Weeks and Train-the-Trainers programmes, providing academic accreditation, ECT credits (3 ECT), and student participants. The university contributes to curriculum design and stakeholder engagement.
• University College Cork (National University of Ireland)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity College Cork co-endorses IFiT Student Project Weeks and provides a Digital Badge upon completion. Jointly contributes to curriculum design, multidisciplinary team facilitation, and student recruitment for the programme.
• University of OsnabrückflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Osnabrück provides field scientists and training experts for IFiT Train-the-Trainers workshops and Student Project Weeks. The university contributes expertise in biology, geology, and geography to programme delivery and student mentorship.
• PeerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPeer appears as a logo partner on the CERES short courses page, suggesting a collaborative relationship in educational or professional development activities.
• Kluba Watersports SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal watersports school providing equipment rental and lessons for CERES course participants, including kitesurfing, windsurfing, and sailing activities offered as extracurricular options.
• Blue Ocean WatersportsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal watersports partner providing training and equipment rental for CERES course participants.
• Symbolion Surf SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal surf school providing surfing lessons and equipment rental for CERES guests as part of extracurricular activity programmes.
• Daniel Windsurf SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal windsurf and water sport instructor providing lessons and equipment for CERES programme participants.
• Winsurf PointminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal windsurf/watersport school providing training and equipment rental services for CERES course participants.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Raleigh International: UK-based charity running structured overseas expeditions for young people focused on community, environmental, and adventure projects. Comparable to CERES in the residential, place-based, experiential learning model for organized cohorts, though with a development rather than research framing.
• Where There Be Dragons: US-based experiential education provider running immersive, field-based programs abroad for high-school and gap-year students, with cultural and environmental themes. Comparable to CERES in combining residential, place-based, and academically rigorous programming for student cohorts.
• Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS): Mid-Atlantic marine research and education station offering residential university field courses, internships, and professional training in ocean sciences. Comparable to CERES in operating a single-site residential field station serving university science departments with research-led programming.
• Field Studies Council: UK-based educational charity running a network of residential field centres offering environmental and geography field courses for schools, colleges, and universities. Directly comparable to CERES in mission (environmental field education) and target buyer (UK academic institutions), with a similar all-inclusive residential model.
• Operation Wallacea: UK-based organization running academically led biodiversity and conservation research expeditions for university and high-school students worldwide. Closely comparable to CERES in combining field research, conservation, and academic credit/credentialing for student participants.
• The School for Field Studies (SFS): US-based provider of field-based environmental study-abroad programs for undergraduates, offering credit-bearing semester and summer courses. Comparable to CERES in delivering residential, field-research-based environmental education for university students in protected natural settings.
• Broadreach: US-based provider of educational adventures and academic summer programs for high-school and college students, including marine science, biology, and outdoor leadership tracks. Comparable to CERES in targeting student cohorts with credit-eligible, residential, field-based learning experiences.

Broad incumbents

• Earthwatch Institute: Global nonprofit running citizen-science field expeditions for adults, students, and corporate groups, with a much broader portfolio of conservation and research destinations. Comparable to CERES in field-research-and-conservation framing, but at significantly larger scale and with broader audience.
• National Geographic Student Expeditions: Branded student travel programs from National Geographic offering high-school and middle-school field experiences led by experts. Comparable to CERES in student field-expedition format, but operates as part of a much larger incumbent media/education brand.

Emerging players

• Students on Ice: Canadian-based organization running polar and marine youth expeditions for high-school and university students focused on climate, ocean, and environmental science. Comparable niche to CERES (field research expeditions for student cohorts) but specialised in Arctic/Antarctic geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CERES INTERNATIONAL ALJEZUR LIMITED