Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs)
These are short, intensive programmes that use innovative learning and teaching methods, including online collaboration. The programmes may include challenge-based learning, where transnational and transdisciplinary teams work together to address issues related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or other societal challenges identified at regional, urban, or business levels.
The objective of blended intensive programmes, which enable the implementation of new and more flexible mobility formats by combining physical mobility with a virtual component, is to make them accessible to all categories of students from all backgrounds, fields of study, and study cycles.
YEAR 2025
Business Carrousel
During the period November 17–21, 2025, the third edition of the BIProgram Business Carrousel took place at the Faculty of Business, Babeș-Bolyai University.
Carrousel is a project initiated by the Faculty of Business 15 years ago, with the main objective of bringing together students from different backgrounds and cultures to form mixed teams and identify solutions to various business challenges. The programme aims to stimulate collaboration and the exchange of ideas between students and the business environment within an intercultural and multidisciplinary framework.
This year’s edition included students from:
📍 USN School of Business (Norway)
📍 Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands)
📍 Babeș-Bolyai University (Romania)
The discussions focused on the following topics:
- Company cultural influences: a cross-sectional comparison
- Consumer behavior
- Organizational leadership
- Change management: How to involve employees in change?
In order to develop their projects, the students visited the companies Rottaprint and MG-Tec Industry and held discussions with business representatives: Tudor Irimiea (BT Asset Management), Andrei Țîrla (Alstom), Erik Barna (Gravity Research), and Liana Precup (Evozone).
The information gathered was subsequently developed by each team, and the results of their work were presented on the final day of the project.
Project implementation team:
➡️ Lecturer, PhD Daniela Cîmpean (Coordinator)
➡️ Professor, PhD Cristian Chifu
Event Management
During November 17–21, 2025, the Faculty of Business within Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca hosted the third edition of the BIProgram Event Management. The program focused on an intensive experience centered on the theme “Gamification & Behavioral Hacks for Smarter Film Festival Ticketing.”
Students from the following universities participated in the project:
Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands)
ICD Business School (France)
The School of Banking and Management in Krakow (Poland)
Krakow University of Economics (Poland)
Babeș-Bolyai University (Romania)
The activities carried out throughout the week by the six mixed teams were based on the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF). Students took part in lectures, discussions, and coaching sessions with academic staff, as well as with the TIFF Festival Manager, Cristian Hordilă.
Monday was dedicated to exploration, as participants discovered Cluj, the Faculty of Business, and the program’s theme. It served as an accommodation day, generating initial ideas regarding the audience experience at festivals.
Tuesday focused on analyzing TIFF spectators’ behaviors and their motivations.
Wednesday was dedicated to innovation, with teams beginning to generate solutions for various aspects that require improvement within TIFF.
The fourth day focused on the creation process, as projects began to take shape, supported by valuable insights from academic staff, including the design of an immersive marketing experience.
The final day was dedicated to presentations delivered by the six teams, demonstrating how gamification can transform TIFF—and any other festival—into a more interactive and memorable experience.
Project implementation team:
Prof. PhD Adina Negrușa (Coordinator)
Assoc. Prof. PhD Monica Maria Coroș
Assoc. Prof. PhD Valentin Toader
Assoc. Prof. PhD Marius Bota
PR Officer Iuliana Levinschi
YEAR 2024
Business Carrousel
During the period November 10–15, 2024, the second edition of the BIProgram Business Carrousel took place at the Faculty of Business, Babeș-Bolyai University.
Carrousel is a project initiated by the Faculty of Business 14 years ago, with the main objective of bringing together students from different backgrounds and cultures to form mixed teams in order to identify solutions to various business challenges. The programme aims to stimulate collaboration and the exchange of ideas between students and the business environment within an intercultural and multidisciplinary framework.
This year’s edition included students from:
📍 Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands)
📍 Katowice Business University (Poland)
📍 Babeș-Bolyai University (Romania)
The discussions focused on the following directions:
➡️ International Business, with the topics Circularity and sustainability in business and Cross-cultural communication in business
➡️ International Human Resources Management, with the topics Learning and development and Employee retention, happiness, and vitality
In order to develop their projects, the students visited the companies Emerson, E van Wijk, and Bosch and held discussions with business representatives: Tudor Irimiea (BT Asset Management), Andrei Țîrla and Iris Kirmaier (Alstom), Erik Barna (faragrija.ro), Diana Costan (Viking), Liana Precup (Evozone), Patricia Iunoaș (Eggs Unimedia), and Alina Băbășan (Integra HR).
The information gathered was subsequently further developed by each team, and the results of their work were presented on the final day of the project.
Project implementation team:
➡️ Professor, PhD Cristian Chifu (Coordinator)
➡️ Lecturer, PhD Daniela Cîmpean
Event Management
During November 11–15, 2024, the Faculty of Business at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca hosted the second edition of the BIProgram Event Management, held under the theme “Greener Festivals, Brighter Future!”, highlighting the impact of environmentally friendly actions and the importance of raising awareness of these issues. Festivals can play an important role in environmental protection by adopting sustainable practices and educating the public.
The project brought together 28 students from the following universities:
📍 ASPIRA University (Croatia)
📍 ICD Business School (France)
📍 University of Maribor (Slovenia)
📍 Babeș-Bolyai University (Romania)
The aim of this edition was to identify innovative solutions designed to enhance the sustainability of the Sports Festival. Following collaboration with stakeholders, research activities, and the integration of innovative ideas, the project teams proposed sustainable solutions that can minimize the environmental impact of this event.
The first day was called Day to Explore, as participants had the opportunity to meet with the Sports Festival organizers, who shared behind-the-scenes insights into how the festival is organized, its purpose and impact, and their plans for the next edition.
The second day, Day to Focus On, concentrated on the development and implementation of the questionnaire.
The third day, Day to Innovate, involved discussions about sustainable practices in festivals. The teams continued their work by analyzing the responses collected through the questionnaire.
The fourth day, Day to Create, was dedicated to intensive teamwork, with students developing their projects to propose the most interesting and innovative sustainable solutions that could be implemented at the Sports Festival. The evening concluded with a cultural dinner, during which participants and organizers brought traditional food and snacks, allowing everyone to experience different culinary cultures.
The final day, Day to Showcase, placed the spotlight on the participants, who enthusiastically presented the results of their work throughout the week. Representatives of the Sports Festival were also present to evaluate and appreciate the ideas proposed by the six teams.
Project implementation team:
➡️ Professor, PhD Adina Negrușa (Coordinator)
➡️ Associate Professor, PhD Monica Maria Coroș
➡️ Associate Professor, PhD Valentin Toader
➡️ Associate Professor, PhD Marius Bota
➡️ PR Officer Iuliana Levinschi
Neurotourism
During November 14–22, 2024, the Faculty of Business at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca organized the Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Autumn School “Neurotourism: Using Neuroscience for a Memorable Tourism Experience,” attended by 66 undergraduate students and 9 academic staff members from the following universities:
📍 UCLL Leuven (Belgium)
📍 Kedge Business School (France)
📍 Vilniaus Kolegija (Lithuania)
📍 Universidade Portucalense (Portugal)
📍 Zuyd University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands)
📍 Kodolányi University (Hungary)
📍 Babeș-Bolyai University (Romania)
This programme aimed to familiarize participants with the latest and most advanced neuroscientific trends applicable to the tourism industry, with the goal of creating positive and memorable tourism experiences. Participants received training and access to neuroscientific technologies provided by the company iMotions, including: eye tracking, emotion and facial expression analysis (Affectiva AFFDEX software), and galvanic skin response (GSR).
During the physical mobility period, held between November 18–22, participants attended numerous workshops focused on brain structure, neuroscientific technologies applied in neurotourism studies, the technical features of the equipment used, the spectrum of human emotions, methods for analyzing biophysiological data, and the interpretation of empirical results.
For the development of their team projects, carried out using the three neuroscientific technologies, students conducted study visits to Salina Turda and to the “Garden of Lights” exhibition at the Botanical Garden. The projects were presented on the final day of the programme.
Project implementation team:
➡️ Professor, PhD Larissa Bătrâncea (Coordinator)
➡️ Professor, PhD Smaranda Cosma
➡️ Associate Professor, PhD Cristina Fleşeriu
➡️ Associate Professor, PhD Veronica Rus
