News / Blended Intensive Programme Erasmus+ at our faculty

Blended Intensive Programme Erasmus+ at our faculty

Jana Bortlíková
20.04.2026

The in-person component of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) course titled "Norm-Consciousness and Health" was taking place at our faculty during the week of April 13–17, 2026. This was the first international course of its kind organized by the faculty.

Text: Mgr. Markéta Skalná, Ph.D. (Institute of Paramedical Health Studies), Jana Bortlíková (International Relations Office)

This year marks the second regular Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) focused on the issues of norms, prejudices, and inclusive approaches in healthcare and social services, titled “Norm-Consciousness and Health.” The course was organized under the auspices of the Institute of Paramedical Health Studies and builds upon the implementation of the Erasmus+ KA2 project “Breaking Fences.”

A pilot (test) run of the course took place in 2024 with mobility to Portugal, and the first official iteration followed in 2025 as part of the project with mobility to Sweden. The current run of the course, which was being held outside the framework of the project for the first time, was hosted by the Faculty of Public Policies in April. The in-person component of the course was preceded by an online phase (March–April 2026), during which participants familiarized themselves with key topics and worked in international teams on assigned tasks.

The course was organized in collaboration with partners within the STARS EU alliance and involves students from a total of six universities: Silesian University in Opava (coordinator), University West (Sweden), Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Portugal), Bremen University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), and University of La Laguna (Spain). Instruction is provided by academic staff from the five participating universities; on behalf of the Faculty of Public Policy, Dr. Skalná from the Institute of Paramedical Health Studies and Dr. Drotárová from the Institute of Pedagogical and Psychological Sciences are involved in the course’s implementation.

The entire course wass dedicated to intensive work on topics related to equity in healthcare, inclusion, diversity, and power structures associated with health and care, with a focus on strengthening structures and processes that support equitable access to healthcare. The course included the study of various theoretical perspectives on the importance of norm-conscious approaches in health and care activities, which form the central theme of the course.

Students participated in creative workshops, group assignments, and projects that emphasize reflection and critical thinking, and whose outcomes will contribute to the development of Norm Lab—an educational platform focused on norm-creative approaches to education in the health and social sciences. Developing one’s own approach to social norms in relation to health and healthcare professions within the context of a socially sustainable society is a key component of the course.

Outputs from previous iterations of the course in Sweden and Portugal, including artifacts created for Norm Lab, are available for viewing on exhibition posters located in the space opposite the hallway leading to the lecture halls.