University of Iceland
Spark Social | Aurora Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Course on Social Innovation
The University of Iceland is partnering with Copenhagen Business School (CBS) and Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (UNINA) to offer this transdisciplinary course for senior graduate students registered in all schools and disciplines across all Aurora universities. The course combines online content, virtual sessions that take place over the semester, and a five-day capstone experience on-site at the University of Iceland.
Participants will gain insights into current and future challenges and learn about how these are being addressed. Participants will work in collaborative interdisciplinary teams under the guidance of experienced industry and academic leaders to apply their new knowledge toward developing their own recommendations for tackling immediate and foreseeable challenges. Students will gain a deeper understanding of their own strengths as well as developing methods and approaches for innovative thinking under the guidance of experienced teachers.
The course incorporates the approach of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which is part of the Aurora Competency Framework. This concept includes both social entrepreneurship, a way to achieve social change by employing entrepreneurial principles with or without the formation of new organizations, and social innovation, a process of developing and deploying effective solutions to challenging and often systemic social and environmental issues in support of social progress.
Virtual sessions: 23 January - 11 April 2025
On-site stay in Iceland: 12 - 16 May 2025
See further information on course here and view the poster.
Nomination Procedure
Students will be nominated by the Universität Innsbruck - Aurora Office Innsbruck to participate in this course. There are 5 spots available for this course.
To apply, each student is required to submit a motivation letter (1-2 A$ pages). The letter should include the following information:
- Study degree level / Admission record stating your current study programme and semester
- Personal Motivation: Why are you interested in taking this course? What specifically draws you to it, and how does it align with your academic or career goals?
- Relevance to Current Studies: How does the course relate to your current field of study or complement your academic progress?
- The benefits you expect to gain from the course: How you believe this course will contribute to your academic, professional, and personal growth. Consider what new knowledge, skills, or experiences you hope to acquire.
- Long-Term Goals: How will completing this course help you achieve their long-term academic or professional objectives?
The motivation letter must be submitted by 9 December 2024. After this date, no applications will be accepted, as all results will be forwarded directly to the University of Iceland, with their nomination deadline on 18 December 2024.
If you encounter any further question on the nomination process, please contact erasmus-bip@uibk.ac.at.
Nominated students will receive information regarding the application procedure at the University of Iceland.
Nominated students will receive an acceptance letter from the University of Iceland by 10 January 2025 and will be provided with information on the next steps in the application procedure
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Interdisciplinary course on healthy and sustainable food systems or mental resilience
Are you passionate about addressing real-world challenges in food systems, sustainability, and health? Join the Interdisciplinary CSL Course at VU Amsterdam, part of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). Open to all Master’s students from Aurora Universities, this course brings together students from diverse disciplines to develop innovative solutions for a sustainable future.
This edition we have two main topics:
1. In collaboration with the European research projects CLEVERFOOD, FOSSNET, and FOSTER, focuses on health and sustainable food systems. You’ll work on practical cases, collaborating with researchers and non-academic stakeholders on food system transformation projects.
2. In collaboration with the Amsterdam-based Knowledge Alliance on Mental Strength, and European project – Re/Presenting Europe, focuses on mental health, resilience and healing. You’ll work on practical cases, collaborating with researchers and non-academic stakeholders on projects that focus on improving the mental wellbeing of the public.
Why join this course?
- Gain a deep understanding of today’s critical food system challenges
- Collaborate in cross-disciplinary teams
- Contribute to innovative solutions for real-world problems
Find more information here and on the poster.
Course timeline:
Registration deadline: 2 December 2024
Acceptance notification: 07 December 2024
Virtual sessions (February – June 2025):
Participate in 8 to 10 online sessions on interdisciplinary collaboration, system innovation, and food systems sustainability or mental health and well-being, and resilience and healing.
Engage in self-study to explore theoretical and practical approaches.
On-site Learning Week (16 – 20 June 2025):
Join your peers in Amsterdam for hands-on work in real-world challenges to foster practical solutions for food system transformation.
oin multi-actor workshops designed to networking and soft-skills.
Who can apply?
We encourage applications from students of any academic background. Whether you have experience in one of the topics or expertise in other areas, your unique perspective is valuable. In your motivation letter, please state which of the two topics you want to follow and how your studies can contribute to one or more of the associated sub-themes: related to Healthy and Sustainable Food System & to Mental Health and Resilience.
There’s room for a wide range of interests, including agricultural sciences, health science, sustainability, governance, technology, business, social sciences, and beyond. Show us how your field of study can contribute to transforming food systems.
Are you interested in joining this course? In case you have additional questions about the course we offer two Q&A sessions. The sessions take place on 12 November afternoon at 16:00 (CES) and 27 November at 10:00 (CES). Please register for these sessions via this link.