Abstract:

This paper analyses how four European Higher Education Institutions explored a new possibility provided by Erasmus programme, when virtual exchange is combined with physical mobility – Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). Vilnius College of Technologies and Design (Lithuania), University of Bialystok (Poland), Vocational College of Traffic and Transport Maribor (Slovenia), and University of Szeged (Hungary) engaged their students to carry out BIP “Green Business”. The virtual exchange lasted for nine weeks, from February 8th until April 5th, 2023, and was followed by a contact week, which was hosted by Vilnius College of Technologies and Design, and was carried out from April 17th to 21st in Vilnius. 33 students from various study fields were split into international teams to develop sustainable business ideas. Both virtual and physical exchange periods were aimed to promote environmental consciousness and sustainable development within the business sector, as well as equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to address sustainable business practices. At the end of the BIP, students shared their individual insights into the course content by participating in a survey, conducted by organizers of the BIP. The key findings of the survey highlighted the significant improvement in participants' understanding of green business concepts, as well as their ability to apply these concepts in real-world scenarios. The answers to the survey questions also revealed a high level of satisfaction among participants, indicating the program's success in meeting their expectations. The article concludes by discussing the implications of the survey findings and their potential impact on future iterations of the Erasmus Blended Intensive Programmes. It suggests areas for improvement, such as incorporating more practical exercises and case studies, to further enhance participants' learning outcomes.

Keywords:

Blended mobility, business canvas, green business idea, sustainable business, environmental consciousness.