"Sustainable Blue Economy" – BFU at BIP with 45 students from 19 nationalities

At Burgas Free University, the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) under the Erasmus+ Program on the topic "Sustainable Blue Economy" was held. The aim of the programme is to prepare participants for responsible and sustainable use of the resources of the seas and oceans through modern knowledge and an interdisciplinary approach. 45 students from 19 nationalities and different educational levels – bachelors, masters and doctoral students, representatives of a wide range of academic fields: economics, business, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, tourism, energy engineering and law from five partner universities: University of Dubrovnik (Croatia), University College Cork – National University of Ireland (Ireland), College of Law (Latvia), University of the National Education Commission (Poland) and Alfa BK University (Serbia). The program started with a virtual welcome by Prof. Maria Cristina Pedicchio – Head of the First Master's Program Sustainable Blue Economy at the University of Trieste and Board Member of the EU Mission "Restore the Oceans and Waters by 2030". She emphasized the importance of inter-university cooperation and the active role of young people for the sustainable future of aquatic ecosystems.

The mixed intensive program offered participants an exciting and varied program with interactive presentations, practical tasks and events. One of the highlights was the workshop "Involvement in the Ocean performance of the world's biggest LEGO challenge", inspired by the theme DIVE – dedicated to the research and protection of the marine environment. The students took part in solving real cases that stimulate creativity, critical thinking and teamwork. The participants in the Joint Intensive Program "Sustainable Blue Economy" took an active part in the XXVI Conference on Student Scientific Creativity.