Abstract
Blended Intensive Programs (BIPs) within the ERASMUS+ framework represent an emerging model of international education that integrates collaborative online learning with a short-term physical stay abroad. Designed and implemented by networks of at least three European universities, these programs are funded and embody a pedagogical shift towards accessible and more inclusive forms of mobility. The project presented in this proposal, the ERASMUS+ BIP “Sustainable Banking and Finance 2024,” was implemented between January and March 2024. It engaged 37 students and 17 faculty from seven European universities in a virtual phase, followed by an in-person session at University CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain. It was the 10th anniversary of this initiative. The intensive curriculum was jointly designed by faculty of all partnering institutions. The central aim of the BIP was to address pressing financial challenges through the lens of sustainable finance, with particular emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. The program encouraged students to critically reflect on two key questions: 1. How can the sustainability of financial institutions, financial markets, and fiscal policy be ensured? 2. How does corporate governance shape the future of banking and finance? By placing the debate within Europe’s contemporary economic context, the program demonstrates how international collaborative education - grounded in economics and technology-enhanced pedagogy - serves to prepare students to understand today’s multidimensional social and economic issues. Student evaluations from the last ten program editions reveal clear progress in learning outcomes. This long-term data demonstrates the adaptability and growing impact of the BIP model.
Presenters
Elizabeth FrankFinance Professor, Dirección de Negocios, University CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain Pedro Fernández
Associate Professor, Economics, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain Sara Lorenzo Ros
CEU
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
BLENDED INTENSIVE PROGRAM, SUSTAINABLE BANKING AND FINANCE, INTERNATIONALIZATION, COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
