USTP - University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten

Development of European Joint Master Programs (“GRACE”)

As coordinator of the E³UDRES² alliance, the St. Pölten UAS is developing “GRACE”, an innovative Joint Master's program to promote international excellence in studies and teaching.

Master GRACE - Gamified Reality Applications for Real-World Challenges and Experiences

Objectives

The E³UDRES² joint master programme "Gamified Reality Applications for Real-world Challenges and Experiences" (GRACE) was developed together with two partner institutions in the European University Alliance E³UDRES² (Saxion UAS (NL), Vidzeme UAS (LV)). Its objective is to train a new generation of experts in the field of Extended Reality (XR) and Gamification who have the know-how necessary to creatively and practically use innovative technologies to transform learning processes and competency development in this digital age. GRACE is the answer to recent technological developments, especially in the areas of XR, AI, and Web 4.0. In its strategy for virtual worlds, the European Commission predicts strong growth in this sector – with a demand for up to 860,000 specialists in Europe by 2025. At the same time, there is a lack of specialised master degree programmes that systematically combine gamification, didactics, and gaming technologies. GRACE seeks to close this gap by offering a programme that is unique in Europe. The programme is designed in such a way that students spend one semester each at every one of the three participating higher education institutions. In the fourth semester, they write their master thesis at one of the three institutions. This international and interdisciplinary structure promotes the students’ professional and personal development. GRACE is a full-time study programme taught in English. Throughout the entire duration of their studies, the students have consistent access to learning platforms and administrative systems at all three institutions. The development of the programme is part of a strategic initiative of the E³UDRES² alliance in order to create joint innovative study offers and recruit the best talents from all over the world for them.

Background

The St. Pölten UAS is the coordinator of the European University Alliance E³UDRES², and the development of four joint programmes is one of its strategic goals. In this context, the internationalisation of its curricula is a central concern – which is anchored both in the university’s strategy and in the Erasmus Policy Statement. The master degree programme GRACE was jointly developed with the Saxion University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands) and the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia) over the space of three years. Each institution contributes its specific know-how in the fields of XR, gamification, and digital literacy. The collaboration was initiated with the goal of creating a joint master programme that offers students a unique learning experience in three different academic and cultural contexts. The partners involved all have many years of experience in the development and implementation of study programmes at EQF levels 6 and 7. Moreover, Vidzeme UAS provides a graduate programme at EQF level 8. The programme’s development was supported through Erasmus Mundus Design Measures. In 2025, GRACE was accredited in all three countries according to the European Approach and submitted for promotion as an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programme. The initiative reinforces not only internationalisation in teaching, but also the inter-institutional collaboration within the alliance. GRACE is a contribution towards the objective of a European multi-university campus with European degrees and also pursues the R&D plan of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education for the period of 2023/24–2025/26. The experiences gained in the programme’s development are incorporated into handbooks intended as guidelines for future programmes. The initiative strengthens internationalisation in teaching as well as the collaboration between institutions within the alliance.

(Implemented) Activities

The development of the GRACE programme was characterised by intensive cooperation between the three partner institutions. In both online and on-site sessions held at regular intervals by the Joint Development Teams, sometimes weekly, the contents, mobility structures, and administrative processes were coordinated. International workshops offered room for in-depth discussion and the involvement of regional stakeholders in order to ensure the programme’s practical relevance and innovative power. One central outcome was the development of a joint curriculum (120 ECTS credits, 4 semesters) that harmonises both the mobility phases and the teaching and examination modalities. To complement this, a joint study handbook and onboarding guides for students and lecturers were developed in order to ensure a smooth start and course of studies. Furthermore, a central didactic element is the module “Path to Reality” that extends over all four semesters and covers everything from idea generation through prototyping to the scientific evaluation of a completed product. It integrates technical, creative, and social competencies and is based on three learning pathways: 1. Communication & Collaboration with the Industry, 2. Design, Prototyping & Implementation (XR Gamification), 3. Teamwork, Peer Reflection & Self-Reflection (EntreComp Framework) Quality assurance took place in close coordination with national agencies and accreditation institutions. In addition, a comprehensive concept for the entire student life cycle was developed that coordinates support structures and recognition procedures across all three study locations. The findings gained within the framework of the development were systematically documented and summarised in a joint guide that serves as a model for future joint programmes within the E³UDRES² alliance.

Results

Within the framework of the project, a completely accredited two-year joint master programme was developed that has a special focus on Extended Reality and Gamification. An important milestone was the successful accreditation according to the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes. In addition, the programme was submitted for promotion as an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programme. In the course of its development, an interdisciplinary teaching and research team was established that realised innovative teaching formats and practice-oriented projects pertaining to XR and Gamification. GRACE closes an identified gap in the European spectrum of study programmes and offers a unique selling point for qualified bachelor degree graduates with a background in Creative Computing. The students benefit from the intensive advancement of their intercultural competencies and international collaboration. At the same time, lasting partnerships with external stakeholders from the industry and research sectors were established. The close coordination with ministries, accreditation agencies, national agencies, and the European Commission contributed substantially to the harmonisation of administrative and recognition processes. GRACE thus makes a valuable contribution to the further development of the European Higher Education Area and serves as an example for future international study programmes.

Lessons learned

The development of the GRACE programme showed that intercultural and interdisciplinary collaboration is not only enriching for students and teachers, but also strengthens the administrative structures of the involved higher education institutions in the long term. The lessons learned from each other at the institutional level significantly contributed to the building of confidence and to the efficiency of collaboration. As the programme was developed, it became particularly obvious that it was necessary to create sustainable educational impulses through the connection of technological innovation and pedagogical reflection, which considerably improved the quality of teaching. To this end, international mobility is to serve as the central factor for the students’ personal and specialist development. The idea is to promote not only technical qualification, but also intercultural and linguistic competencies which are, after all, increasingly sought after in the global labour market. Another key insight was that the successful development of a joint programme is possible based on close collaboration on all levels of a university alone. The coordination of complex processes across national borders did pose a challenge, but one that could be successfully overcome through clear communication, mutual trust, and orientation towards a common goal. The writing of joint handbooks and guidelines proved to be extremely helpful for making future developments more effective and securing the initiative’s continued viability. In other words, GRACE did not only result in an innovative study offer, but also established valuable structures and processes that can serve as the basis for further international programmes.

Internationalisation Award 2025

3. place in category „Internationalisation of the Curriculum“ – Internationalisierung von Studium und Lehre

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