Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes

The partnership must consist of at least three higher education institutions (HEIs) awarded with an Erasmus Charter coming from at least three different countries associated to the Erasmus Programme. The course must consist of a virtual component combined with a short physical mobility. The virtual and physical components should complement each other. The virtual component must bring the learners together online to work collectively on specific assignments that are integrated in the blended intensive programme and count towards the overall learning outcomes. In other words, the virtual component should bring the learners together through for example online collaborations, discussions or group work. It should not consist only of lectures. The physical mobility, lasting 5-30 days, should also bring the learners together through collaborations, discussions, group work, etc.

Blended intensive programmes use innovative ways of learning and teaching, including the use of online cooperation. The course may include challenge-based learning where transnational and transdisciplinary teams work together to tackle challenges, for example those linked to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals or other identified societal challenges. The course should have added value compared to existing courses offered by the participating HEIs and can be multiannual. It may be used as a tool to increase the participating institutions’ work with digitalisation and give the students and teachers a chance to practice their digital skills.

A BIP can be an opportunity for internationalisation and mobility for study programmes who do not have a traditional semester mobility. It can also be a means to attract students to participate in a longer mobility later in their studies. Additionally, it provides internationalisation at home for local students at the receiving institution.

The three institutions organising the BIP will have the following roles:

• One of the three institutions is the coordinating institution. They are responsible for applying for funding (“organisational support”) for the BIP. This institution is by default the receiving institution unless decided otherwise. They will host the physical mobility of the BIP.
• The other two institutions are sending institutions. Teachers from these institutions are actively involved in creating and delivering the BIP. They send participants to the BIP with grants financed by the study mobility budget within Erasmus+ KA131.

It is currently possible for the University of Borås to participate in a BIP as sending institution. The information below is written from the perspective of the University of Borås being a sending institution.

Requirements for Blended Intensive Programmes

• The BIP must be organised by at least three HEIs awarded with an Erasmus Charter from at least three different countries associated to the Erasmus Programme. See a list of associated countries here.
• There must be an Erasmus Inter-Institutional Agreement between the University of Borås and the receiving university.
• The BIP should generate at least 3 ECTS for students. The credits have to be awarded by the receiving institution (they may not receive the credits from the University of Borås). Students from the University of Borås have the right to receive recognition (tillgodoräkning) for the credits completed and include them in their degree.
• The BIP needs to have at least 15 participants financed with an Erasmus+ grant. Teachers involved in delivering the BIP do not count towards the minimum number. Local students of the receiving university may participate in the BIP but will not count towards the minimum number of participants.
• The physical mobility must last between 5-30 days.
• The virtual mobility may take place before, during or after the physical mobility (or as a combination of these).

Financing Mechanisms

Organisational Support

Institutions who wish to organise a BIP apply for financial support, “organisational support”, from Erasmus+. The coordinating institution applies for the organisational support on behalf of the group of institutions jointly organising the BIP by including it in their application for Erasmus+ funding within KA131. The organisational support is calculated on a flat rate times the number of participants. For application round 2023, the flat rate sum was 400 Euro per participant it was possible to apply for a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 20 participants which means that the organisational support for a BIP was between 6000-8000 Euro. Please note that possible to have more than 20 participants in a BIP but it will not generate a higher amount of organisational support.

The organisational support is a contribution to costs incurred by the institutions to organise the BIP, for example costs for preparation, development, implementation and follow-up, including the provision of physical and virtual activities as well as overall management and coordination. It may not be used for subsistence and travel for participants.

In the application, they will state how many participants they request funding for (min. 15 – max. 20). The organisational support for application round 2023 was 400 Euro per participant. It is possible to have more than 20 participants in a BIP but it will not generate a higher amount of organisational support. If the BIP is granted funds, it is the coordinating university who is responsible for the funds and, if applicable, for dividing it between the institutions. The coordinating institution is responsible for reporting the BIP in their final report of the applicable Erasmus+ KA131 project.

Erasmus+ grant for participants

Erasmus+ grant for students from the UB who participate in a BIP are financed by the same budget as all other study mobilities within Erasmus+ KA131. They may only receive a grant for the physical mobility part of the BIP.

Teachers from the University of Borås involved in delivering a BIP may apply for Erasmus+ teaching grant for the physical mobility of the BIP. You find more information on that here.

Are you interested in Blended Intensive Programmes?

The International Office of the University of Borås manages the Erasmus+ KA131 projects in which the BIPs are organised. Therefore, they need to be involved throughout the entire process of a BIP. Contact the International Coordinators through exchange@hb.se during the initial stage, as soon as the request/idea arises, to assess the possibilities and receive guidance. There are several lengthy processes that need to be taken into account, and you should be prepared for it to take about one year from the initial stage before the BIP may start, sometimes even longer. Questions that need to be investigated are, for example, the structure of the course, inter-institutional agreements, eligibility requirements, announcement for applications and allocation of placements, credit recognition, grant funding, etc.