Take part in Erasmus+ BIP with a week-long trip to Portugal

  • Michal Stoklasa
  • 10.10.2022
In cooperation with universities within the Strategic Alliance for Regional Transition (STARS EU), we offer a new programme in which students work in international teams to solve assignments for companies and organisations from different EU countries. The collaboration takes place mainly online and partly offline on a week-long trip to the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança in Portugal. Take the opportunity to experience international team work, improve your English, gain valuable experience and 6 ECTS credits on top of that!

Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) are short intensive learning programmes newly introduced under the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programming period. BIPs are a combination of virtual and short-term physical mobility (typically 5-30 days) and are characterised by the use of innovative ways of learning and teaching. The virtual part allows participation in teaching and training from foreign experts from all partner countries involved. The physical short-term mobility then allows for face-to-face collaboration between all participants. Upon successful completion of the BIP, the student is awarded 6  ECTS credits under elective courses.

Name of the programme: Challenge Based Innovation

Programme partners: Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Portugal), Hanze University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands), Bremen University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Universidad de La Laguna (Spain), Silesian University in Opava (Czechia), South East Technological University (Ireland)

Number of credits after successful completion: 6 ECTS

Language of instruction: English

Schedule:

  • Virtual part: 28/11/2022 - 27/01/2023
  • Physical part* (Bragança, Portugal): 23/01/2023 - 27/01/2023

*Students will receive a scholarship for the physical part of the mobility, e.g. accommodation and meals.

Our students experienced the BIP concept together with colleagues from Portugal, Germany and the Netherlands for the first time last semester. The last run of the "Challenge based innovation" programme had several teams and several challenges. For example, our 2 students participated in a team that developed a communication strategy for the Expat Centre in Ostrava, with the aim of finding a way to properly reach a selected customer segment with the offer of new services. During the semester, the team met online every week and together they moved forward with the solution. Throughout the project, they consulted the project with Expat Center representatives or marketing experts. Then in June, they flew to Braganca, Portugal for a week-long intensive training program and then presented their final solution. Besides, they also partied with other international students to strengthen the team spirit.

"In the BIP programme, I had the opportunity to work with students from different countries on a communication strategy for an Ostrava-based organisation that helps expats feel at home in our region. Throughout the semester, our team of five met online and explored the world of marketing and communications with the help of an assigned coach. The icing on the cake was a week in Portugal, where we attended a series of thematic seminars and worked with team members to prepare a presentation on our semester project. In our free time we explored the Portuguese hinterland and enjoyed the atmosphere of the historic town of Bragança. Thanks to the programme, I gained valuable international experience, tried to build a communication strategy and improved my foreign language speaking skills. Above all, I made unique friendships and had a lot of fun." Mgr. Dominik Plíhal, student of the programme Management v sociálních službách

"At first I was hesitant to attend this educational event and only applied at the last minute. The programme reminded me a lot of Business Gate Academy in its structure and content. During the semester, we met online twice a week as an international team. We worked on an assignment from one of the companies and then presented the results of our work at a week-long meeting in Bragança, Portugal, where we also met other teams and students from partner universities. In addition to lectures and workshops, we had the opportunity to discover the beauty of exotic Portugal. We returned home with new knowledge, contacts with friends from all over Europe and a lot of experiences. I also gained the courage to come there to study for a whole semester. So if you are hesitant like I was at the beginning, I recommend not to miss this unique opportunity. The financial support from the school and the 6 ECTS credits are also nice factors that make this event more accessible and interesting." Daniel Mikušt'ák, student of the programme Bankovnictví, peněžnictví, pojišťovnictví

We have another BIP - Challenge based innovation course prepared for this semester, which we are recruiting for now. If interested, just apply via the online form below. You'll get international experience, meet new friends, travel to Portugal and top it off with 6 credits for completion!

For more information please contact:

Registration: Students will prepare a motivation letter and CV in English and upload the documents to the registration form (login using CRO@ad.slu.cz and CRO password) by 14 October 2022.

Other BIPs offered by the partner university Polytechnic Institute of Bragança for the winter semester are available HERE with a registration deadline of 15 October 2022.