Burgas Free University has implemented the international M.A.P.S. programme under Erasmus+.
Burgas Free University successfully implemented the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) M.A.P.S.: Media, AI, Psychology and Skills for the Digital Learner, initiated by the Center for Humanities under the Erasmus+ programme. The initiative brought together more than 25 students and lecturers from five European countries and six universities, who worked together for over a month in an international academic environment.
The programme combined virtual and physical mobility through three online meetings and a one‑week intensive session in Burgas (22–26 June). This format enabled participants to exchange knowledge and experience, work in interdisciplinary and international teams, and develop ideas for contemporary digital education.
The main focus of M.A.P.S. was the impact of media and artificial intelligence on learning, the psychological aspects of attention, motivation and learning in a digital environment, as well as the development of competences and skills needed by the modern digital learner. Interactive lectures, practical workshops, case studies and project‑based learning encouraged participants to seek innovative solutions to the challenges facing the education of the future.
A key element of the programme were the international student teams, which developed and presented original concepts for digital educational solutions. Their project work demonstrated the importance of cooperation between different academic cultures, the exchange of ideas and the joint solving of real educational cases.
Alongside the academic programme, participants had the opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of Burgas and Nessebar through interactive missions, media challenges and creative tasks, which turned intercultural exchange into a natural part of the learning process.
A special contribution to the successful implementation of the programme was made by the student volunteers from the educational programmes of the Center for Humanities. They welcomed and supported the international participants, coordinated daily activities, assisted with teamwork and the organisation of the cultural programme. With their initiative, professionalism and responsibility, the volunteers helped create an atmosphere of trust, cooperation and friendship, representing Burgas Free University with dignity before its international partners.
Blended Intensive Programmes under Erasmus+ are among the most innovative forms of international cooperation in higher education, as they combine virtual learning, physical mobility and joint project work. For Burgas Free University, the implementation of M.A.P.S. is yet another proof of its active role in the European Higher Education Area and its commitment to building a modern academic environment where international partnership, innovation and active student participation go hand in hand.
