Erasmus+ BIP: cooperation in an international team with one week mobility in Portugal

  • Veronika Novotná
  • 23.02.2023
In cooperation with universities within the Strategic Alliance for Regional Transition (STARS EU), we offer a program in which students work in international teams to solve assignments for companies and organisations from different EU countries. This semester, we also offer a new BIP focused on circular bioeconomy. 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 Programs (BIPs) are short intensive learning programs newly introduced under the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programing 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.

Last semester, students worked on projects such as Digital Nomads, Eco Farms, and how a company selling edible insects could expand abroad. The groups included students from Czechia, Portugal, Spain, Poland, Germany and Latvia. During the F2F Week, students attended workshops on various topics - for example, start-ups, story telling, or the basics of short presentations (pitches). Our university was the most represented, with 11 students participating in this project. Our international students, who came to Karviná from India, to study a Master's degree program, also participated in the project.

"During my one-week BIP (Challenge Based Innovation) project, I had an incredibly engaging and rewarding experience. The project was structured around a real-world challenge, which required us to use our critical thinking and problem-solving skills to develop innovative solutions. We worked in teams, which allowed us to share our diverse perspectives and expertise, and collaboratively develop ideas that we wouldn't have been able to create individually. Throughout the project, we had access to various resources and tools, including expert guidance, feedback, and mentorship, which helped us refine and improve our ideas. The experience not only taught me the importance of collaboration, but also helped me develop skills in project management, communication, and leadership. The topic my team of 5 had been working on was "ACTIVE TOURISM VOLCANO" which is based on the problems faced by the people in La Palma Island in Spain. We studied the problems faced by them because of the Volcanoes there and we came up with some brain storming and we finally decided to create a Natural Eco-system called the "LAVA LAND" which will create work opportunity and facilities and give new life to the Island and our idea convinced the jury. Overall, the BIP project was an exceptional opportunity to apply what I learned in a meaningful way and to make a positive impact." Sampras, student of the program Economics and Management

In the summer semester, students can apply for one of the programs below. A maximum of 4 students from our faculty will be selected for each BIP.

Name of the program: 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)

Content: Team building. Analysis and study of the selected challenge. Teamwork. Discussion of ideas (brainstorming). Rapid prototyping and prototype evaluation (if applicable). Innovation. The value proposition for different stakeholders. Solution validation. Pitch/Selling. Creation of value proposition for the end user.

Number of credits after successful completion: 6 ECTS; Language of instruction: English

Schedule:

  • Virtual part: 17/04/2023 - 18/06/2023
  • Physical part* (Bragança, Portugal): 19/06/2023 - 23/06/2023

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

For more information please contact:

  • Ing. Ondřej Mikšík (miksik@opf.slu.cz) - information about the program and selection process
  • Ing. Radmila Unucková (unuckova@opf.slu.cz, International Relations Office - A302) - program organization

Registration: Students will prepare a motivation / cover letter and CV in English and upload the documents within their application in ISOIS (login using UČO number and CRO password - same as for IS SU) by 11 March 2023.

Name of the program: Circular Bioeconomy

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), University West (Sweden), Silesian University in Opava (Czechia), Cracow University of Technology (Poland)

Content: Seminars in Circular Bioeconomy: Circular economics, Degrowth economics, Bioeconomy, Biotechnology in bioeconomy, Sustainability of food businesses through quality, innovation and data analytics, Bioenergy, Life Cycle Analysis. Biomass in the synthesis of porous polymer materials. Research activities at the Mountain Research Centre (CIMO, Bragança, Portugal). Project development on sustainable development goals.

Number of credits after successful completion: 6 ECTS; Language of instruction: English

Schedule:

  • Virtual part: 27/04/2023 - 29/06/2023
  • Physical part* (Bragança, Portugal): 05/06/2023 - 09/06/2023

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

For more information please contact:

  • Ing. Petra Chmielová, Ph.D. (chmielova@opf.slu.cz) - information about the program and selection process
  • Ing. Radmila Unucková (unuckova@opf.slu.cz, International Relations Office - A302) - program organization

Registration: Students will prepare a motivation / cover letter and CV in English and upload the documents within their application in ISOIS (login using UČO number and CRO password - same as for IS SU) by 31 March 2023.