Blended Intensive Programme (BIP)
The Blended Intensive Programme is a new feature of the Erasmus+ programme. It is an international short-term intensive course with innovative teaching methods that combines physical and virtual activities.
The HEI can participate in the programme either as a coordinator (a host institution) or as a participant (a sending institution).
Definition of BIP
- An association of at least 3 higher education institutions from 3 different Erasmus+ programme countries
- Combination of a physical mobility of 5-30 days and a virtual component (length not specified)
- Participants can be students at all levels of study, academic and administrative staff
- The institution is involved either in the role of coordinator (i.e. designing and coordinating the programme) or in the role of participant (sending participants to a programme provided by the coordinating institution) of the programme.
Participation of VSE students in an international BIP programme
Based on a faculty selection procedure, VSE students or employees may participate in a programme organised by a foreign institution.
- The length of the physical activity within the short-term combined mobility is 5-30 days, the length of the virtual activity is not limited (but must be implemented)
- The mobility is financed from the allocated E+ budget and the financial support is calculated on the basis of the expected duration of the stay:
- Day 1-14: 79,- EUR/day
- 15th – 30th day: 56 EUR/day
- travel costs according to distance zones are also added
- Students with limited opportunities are eligible for other financial support.
The financial support is only to partially cover the costs, it is only a contribution to the increased costs associated with the stay abroad – the student is expected to contribute financially. The period of online mobility is not financially supported by Erasmus+. Financial support is only granted for the physical mobility period.
Organisation of the BIP programme at VSE
Programmes are designed and coordinated at the faculty level. On the basis of the proposed programme, the faculty is then allocated funds from the Erasmus+ programme.
Conditions:
- partners are at least 3 higher education institutions (ECHE holders) from 3 different Erasmus+ programme countries (EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey)
- 15participants from sending institutions
- participants can be students or staff
- Home students/staff may also participate, but are not counted as compulsory (number not specified)
- the programme consists of a physical mobility of 5-30 days and a virtual mobility, where the duration is not specified
- a minimum of 3 ECTS must be allocated to each BIP
- supported by a valid inter-institutional agreement (a template of the agreement in the dowload section below)
BIP financing
Coordinating institution
The organiser of the selected BIP project is allocated OM/OS funding of EUR 6,000 depending on the number of mandatory participants (15) in the programme (400€ per participant). The funds are intended for the preparation, design, development, coordination, implementation and follow-up of the BIP, in particular for:
- preparation of training materials
- rental of premises and equipment
- communication activities, translation and interpretation
- preparatory visits and administrative tasks
- refreshments (coffee-breaks) during the programme
- trips and excursions included in the programme
- remuneration for teachers, trainers and administrative staff
BIP process
The basis of the BIP organisation is to contact partner institutions abroad and create a programme complementing existing courses at the participating universities, including innovative teaching methods and online collaboration.
1. Project Proposal – The BIP Programme organiser will complete the project proposal form (see download below).
2. Project Approval – The completed project proposal form is forwarded to the International Office (IO), which forwards it to the Vice-Rector for International Relations for approval.
3. Signing of Multilateral Agreement – In order to organize the program, a multilateral agreement must be signed with the partner institutions. A template of the contract can be downloaded below. The contract should be completed, signed (ideally by digital electronic signature) at the partner schools and then forwarded to the IO who will arrange the signature on behalf of VSE. The IO will then register the BIP programme in the European Commission’s Beneficiary Module database.
4. Allocation of funds – information on the allocation of funds is on the website here.
5. Administrative process – International participants in the BIP programme are selected by the partner universities. These universities also register their students in the Beneficiary Module database and in the specific BIP program at VSE. Students must also be registered in the InSIS study system before starting the programme. The Learning Agreements of international students are approved by the Vice Dean for Studies and/or the Vice Dean for International Relations of the respective faculty.
6. Preparation and implementation of the project – information on the preparation and implementation of the project can be found on the website here.
7. Project evaluation and accounting – information on project evaluation and settlement is available here.
Contact
The contact person at the International Office for short-term intensive programmes (BIP) is Ing. Jana Snížková, jana.snizkova [at] vse.cz.
