CIVIS Blended Intensive Programmes 2024-2025 (January 2026)

The report aims to inform strategic decision-making, quality enhancement, and the future development of BIPs within the CIVIS Alliance.

The analysis draws on quantitative and qualitative data collected through structured online surveys administered to both students and coordinators. A total of 611 students (out of 1.534 students, 39.83%) who participated in CIVIS BIPs responded to the student survey, representing a wide range of disciplines, institutions, and levels of study (bachelor, master, and doctoral levels). In parallel, 40 responses from BIP coordinators were collected, representing 39 BIPs out of the 70 implemented during the reference academic year, with one response consolidating input from two coordinators. Together, these data provide a robust and multi-perspective evidence base for assessing programme performance and impact.

Overall, the findings indicate a high level of satisfaction and maturity in the implementation of CIVIS BIPs.

From an administrative perspective, students and coordinators largely perceive application, validation, and organisational processes as accessible and well structured. Administrative support emerges as one of the strongest pillars of the CIVIS BIP ecosystem, playing a key role in enabling participation and mitigating procedural complexity. Nonetheless, challenges persist in relation to documentation requirements, Learning Agreement procedures, and uneven ECTS recognition across institutions.

Regarding mobility, students report very positive experiences with the organisation and completion of physical mobility, as well as with course locations and accessibility. Financial and informational aspects remain the main pressure points, particularly the timing of payments and clarity regarding funding conditions. Uptake of green mobility remains limited, not due to lack of motivation, but because of structural constraints related to time, cost, geography, and administrative feasibility.

The teaching and learning experience constitutes one of the strongest dimensions of CIVIS BIPs. Students report very high satisfaction with the quality and relevance of learning activities, especially those that are experiential, practice-based, and interactive, such as workshops, fieldwork, laboratory activities, and group projects. A strong alignment between announced programme design and actual delivery reinforces trust and credibility. Active learning, international collaboration, and interdisciplinarity are consistently highlighted as key strengths.

Regarding digital platforms, tools such as Moodle and institutional systems are generally perceived as reliable and supportive for blended learning. However, the CIVIS mobility platform is frequently described by coordinators as complex and time-consuming, particularly for managing student status and post-mobility processes.

Finally, the analysis confirms the strong added value of CIVIS BIPs, particularly in terms of international exposure, interdisciplinary learning, skills development, and network building. CIVIS values – such as civic engagement, challenge-based learning, and collaboration across disciplines and institutions – are clearly reflected in programme design and participant experiences.7

Key challenges identified across the report include administrative complexity, inconsistent ECTS recognition, time and workload constraints, uneven availability of pedagogical support, operational difficulties related to green mobility, and the usability of digital platforms. These challenges are largely systemic and linked to institutional, regulatory, and infrastructural conditions rather than to programme quality itself.

Based on these findings, the report recommends further harmonisation and simplification of administrative and recognition procedures, earlier and clearer communication regarding mobility funding and green travel options, targeted improvements to digital platforms, and stronger institutional support for pedagogical design and interdisciplinary innovation. Strengthening the recognition of academic coordination work and systematically sharing best practices across the CIVIS Alliance are also identified as key levers for enhancing sustainability and impact.

Overall, the report concludes that CIVIS BIPs represent a high-quality, high-impact educational format, well aligned with the strategic objectives of the CIVIS Alliance. Addressing the remaining structural and operational challenges will further strengthen their inclusiveness, effectiveness, and long-term contribution to European university cooperation.

Citation Stîngu, M., Carțiș, A., Iftimescu, S., Björling, A.-K., Sköld, E., & CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance. (2026). CIVIS Blended Intensive Programmes 2024-2025: quality, impact, and strategic development. CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18504165