Privatuniversität Schloss Seeburg

Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme: The Future of Sports Management

Keywords

• - "Exchange"
• - "Erasmus+"
• - "Promoting quality transnational mobility for higher education staff"
• - "Promoting quality transnational mobility for students "
• - "international cooperation"
• - "International and intercultural competence"
• - "Short-term mobility"
• - "Private university"
• - "Virtual/physical mobility"

Short description

Objective

The main target of the first ERAMUS+ Blended Intensive Programme conducted by an Austrian private university was the implementation of “Internalisation@home”. The focus was on the promotion of intercultural competences and the joint creation of an international event project.

Target group(s)

• - "University members"
• - "Lecturers"
• - "Students"

Area

• - "Digital mobility formats"
• - "Incoming"
• - "Internationalisation"
• - "Skills development"
• - "Mobility funding for university staff"

Framework

The Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) is a new ERASMUS+ initiative that promotes short-term mobility of students and staff within the EU. It consists of a one-week on-site programme and a virtual component that takes place before and/or after. The Private University Schloss Seeburg developed the programme based on its many years of experience with semi-virtual teaching and accordingly opted for a virtual component before and after the on-site programme, as this is conducive to both group communication and the achievement of learning outcomes. Academic staff from the two partner universities - Aspira University College in Split and University Niccolo Cusano in Rome, with whom a successful cooperation has existed for several years; were also involved in the design of the programme and contributed to the content of the programme with their on-site presentations. As far as group size is concerned, the target was set at 8-12 students per partner institution, which was successfully met; on the part of the Private University Schloss Seeburg, more than 20 students actively participated. After consultation with the partner universities, the Erasmus+ Organisational Support Budget of the Private University Schloss Seeburg covered the costs for the students' meals during the day on site, for the excursions and, in terms of sustainable travel, for the transfer by train between the locations in Austria.

Steps/Activities

The activities were divided into three parts: The 1st virtual part served as preparation for the attendance week. Texts and materials were provided and the students answered an assignment as a video and dealt with current topics on the sustainability of sports events. The second part, the attendance week in Austria, consisted of a 5-day programme that led from Salzburg via Linz to Vienna and was framed by professional lectures. Furthermore, a focus was placed on the business perspective and stakeholders in the field of sports management were visited: - Red Bull Football and Ice Hockey Academy - LASK Arena Linz - Linz Ice Hockey Club. On one of the attendance days in Vienna, the international teams developed and presented an international event project. The final part was an event mystery check at an American football game of the Austrian College Sports League. In the third, virtual part, the event project was finalised and submitted in the groups.

Impact

According to their feedback, the programme was for the students an excellent example how to further develop their intercultural competence. 100% of the respondents gave the content of the programme the highest possible note, all of them agreed in the survey that they would recommend other students to take part in this programme and that the programme enhanced their international skills. The topic was of great interest for all participants and of importance for their future careers. For the Seeburg Castle University it was an important contribution to its internationalization efforts.

Lessons learned

The mutual cooperation of students from different countries is an important asset to the student learning. Among the participants were not only the three countries of origin of the universities - Italy, Austria, Croatia - but also Germany, Slovenia, Serbia and Costa Rica. Since all communication was purely in English, none of the groups had the advantage of a mother tongue, which lowered the language barrier considerably. Thus, a relaxed, communicative atmosphere developed surprisingly quickly. Among the exciting aspects were the differences in working methods (e.g. expectations regarding the accuracy of instructions and precision of implementation) and the general daily routine (such as the length of the lunch break or punctuality at the meeting points). However, this short programme causes a big workload to the administration of the university which should not be underestimated. Therefore, very early deadlines for both applications and all the documents are highly recommended.

Further links to the manual