The UM hosts its first SEA-EU Blended Intensive Programme
Tourism sustainability was the subject of a Blended Intensive Programme held at the University of Malta in February. This is the first BIP hosted by the UM under the auspices of the SEA-EU Alliance of Universities, and the second BIP for the UM.
Blended intensive programmes are short-term programmes made up of a virtual and a physical component supported by the Erasmus+ Programme. They promote international mobility for students and academics, and are intended to foster international connections between higher education institutions.
The BIP was organised by the Department of Tourism Management of FEMA in collaboration with the International Office and the SEA-EU Office of the University of Malta.
Asked to comment, the Rector’s Delegate for SEA-EU Prof. Alan Deidun said: “The organisation of this BIP marks yet another milestone for the University of Malta’s participation within the SEA-EU Alliance, demonstrating that the University and its staff have come of age in capitalising on the multifarious opportunities provided within the same Alliance. Kudos to the Department of Tourism Management for taking the plunge and organising the same BIP, which is all the more significant considering the sheer importance of tourism to the Maltese economy.”
Preparations for the BIP began ten months in advance. The department started off with the preparation of a new study-unit and its validation by APQRU. Invitations to teach at the BIP were sent out to professors from SEA-EU universities. Several UM professors were expressed interest in the delivery of the programme. The response was overwhelmingly positive thus enabling the TM Department to prepare a very interesting academic programme for the students. The BIP fact sheet and details were shared with colleagues from the other SEA-EU Universities, so that the BIP is promoted with their students. Over months of preparations several other UM administrative departments were involved. The success of the BIP confirms the importance of an appropriate institutional set-up to ensure that things run smoothly.
The BIP was attended by nineteen students from six SEA-EU universities and a further five students from our own UM Department of Tourism Management. Eight SEA-EU professors gave lectures and led workshops in the physical part of the programme comprising twenty hours of teaching over five days. A further eight hours of teaching were offered to the students in the virtual part of the programme held over two days in the previous week. Students who successfully completed the BIP will be awarded 4 ECTSs.
The Pro-Rector for Strategic Planning & Sustainability Prof. Valerie Sollars took time out from her busy schedule to talk to the BIP students about the sustainability initiatives of the UM. The students and visiting academics were formally welcomed by the Pro-Rector for International Development & Quality Assurance, Prof. Frank Bezzina.
Much of the BIP success was due to the contribution of professors and academics from SEA-EU universities. They engaged enthusiastically not only in their teaching commitments but also in the social activities.
Having SEA-EU professors on campus, the TM Department took the opportunity to organise two side events. These were a debate for UM academics on ‘Tertiary Teaching and Learning: The Challenges and Opportunities of GenAI’. A second side event was a public lecture ‘Religion and the Russian Aggression on Ukraine’ by Prof. Magdalena Nowak from the University of Gdansk. The latter was co-organised with the UM’s Department of International Relations.
Well done to Dr. John Ebejer and to Isabella Bianco for the organisation of this important event supported by their colleagues in the Department of Tourism Management and the SEA-EU Office respectively.
The SEA-EU universities involved in the BIP were University of Split, Nord University, University of Cadiz, University of the Algarve, University of Gdansk, University of Brest and University of Naples Parthenope.
