Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program 2024/2025

BIP GEO 2025

Landscape Transformations, Abandonment and Resilience in Peripheral Rural Areas in Southern Europe

This training program provides for a series of theoretical-practical collaborative learning activities that aim to introduce students to the fields of description, interpretation and analysis of changing landscapes, taking into account processes of abandonment, depopulation, resilience and transition to sustainability in peripheral rural spaces.

This program has two phases:

(1) a first virtual one, in which selected students they will have to follow different training modules, debate international topics related to the BIP theme and prepare a group project that introduces them to research; and

(2) a face-to-face phase, consisting of field practices (including itineraries through peripheral and cross-border rural areas of the Minho and Trás-os-Montes regions, in the north of Portugal, with visits to places that constitute several examples of abandonment of territories and ways of life, as well as good practices in public and business policies), two presentation and discussion sessions of the experiences carried out by students in the virtual phase, and a conference session given by experts on the topics covered.

This project is intended to continue the BIP that is operating in 2024, between the same three institutions, involving 30 students, and which has the title 'Extensive livestock systems and landscape: challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development of rural areas in Southern Europe', and which deepens the training program integrated by Arqus Alliance universities.

This BIP 2025 will provide an international perspective to students and facilitate collaboration and exchange of experiences between future geography and landscape science professionals in southern Europe. The main working language will be English, with Portuguese, Spanish and Italian also accepted.