ABSTRACT
In recent decades, there has been a growing consensus among political representatives and higher education institutions on the need to foster “intercultural competence” among students to prepare them as “global citizens” for an interconnected world. While internationalisation strategies traditionally focused on physical mobility, the ambitious mobility targets set by the European Commission and the growing use of online learning have contributed to an increased interest in the potential of “internationalisation at home” (IaH). This chapter examines “Blended Intensive Programmes” (BIPs), a new funding option under the Erasmus+ programme (2021-2027), and discusses how they can be carried out within the context of European University Alliances (EUAs) as a way to promote IaH. By providing a context that facilitates the development of “intercultural competence” among their students, BIPs could contribute to the mobility targets of those alliances set by the European Commission. Drawing upon an extensive literature review, the chapter argues that (i) the inter-institutional nature of EUAs provides a context that facilitates and streamlines BIPs; (ii) intentional actions within BIPs are essential for fostering students’ intercultural understanding; (iii) academic staff is crucial in designing and executing these programmes; and (iv) the academic staff involved needs the necessary pedagogical tools and guidance to successfully leverage BIPs as an activity within EUAs likely to enhance students’ “intercultural competence.”
