Aurora Course Design Retreat Strengthens Collaboration and Innovation in Education
From 15 to 17 October, dozens of academics from across Europe gathered at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for the Aurora Course Design Retreat and Academic Matchmaking. Over three days, participants worked together to design new joint educational initiatives within the Aurora universities – from campus-based courses and micro-credentials to a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP).
Welcome by Jeroen Geurts, Rector Magnificus at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
The event was one of the initiatives in the broader Aurora 2030 programme, which is part of the European Universities Initiative launched by the European Commission aimed at achieving high-quality education with societal impact. It offered professors a unique opportunity to co-create, exchange ideas, and strengthen partnerships around key themes such as sustainability, digitalisation, health and well-being, culture, social entrepreneurship and innovation, and peace education.
Plenary Session: “Doing BIPs well!”
One of the highlights of the Course Design Retreat and Academic Matchmaking event was the plenary session “Doing BIPs well!”, presented by Marina Vives Cabré from Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV). Leading the Aurora team working on Enabling Mobility and Exchange, she introduced the new Aurora BIP Handbook – a comprehensive guide for designing and implementing Blended Intensive Programmes.
In her presentation, Vives highlighted how BIPs offer unique opportunities for collaboration among Aurora universities. “Blended Intensive Programmes allow us to bring together students and staff from different countries in innovative short learning formats that reflect our shared values and address global challenges,” said Vives.
The handbook provides practical guidelines, tips, and a timeline for developing BIPs, helping institutions strengthen partnerships and enrich their teaching practices.
Marina Vives Cabré launches the Aurora BIP Handbook, a comprehensive guide for developing and organising Blended Intensive Programmes in Aurora universities
Design, Collaboration and Inspiration
During the Course Design Days, participants worked in thematic groups – such as Sustainability and Climate Change, Digital Society and Global Citizenship, and Peace Education – to develop potential inter- and transdisciplinary micro-credentials and joint courses.
There was also room for inspiration: workshops on teaching methods, presentations of successful Aurora course formats, and a contribution from VU Amsterdam’s own A Broader Mind Course, which exemplifies interdisciplinary learning in practice.
Building the Future of European Education Together
The event marked an important step in advancing the Aurora Educational Hubs and followed earlier gatherings in Tarragona and Paris. Participants left Amsterdam with new ideas, collaboration plans, and concrete course designs.
The Aurora Course Design Retreat and Academic Matchmaking event demonstrated how cross-border cooperation leads to innovative education – and how the Aurora community is jointly building a more connected, sustainable, and inclusive future for European higher education.