Lifelong Learning programme - Erasmus actions

Mobility of Individuals - Intensive Programmes

The following information from The European Commission website gives a short introduction to the Intensive Program (IP) initiative of the European Union.

Source:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/guide/fiches/erasmus6_en.html

Objectives and description of the action

An Intensive Programme (IP) is a short programme of study (2- 6 weeks of subject related work) which brings together students and staff from higher education institutions in at least three participating countries in order to:

  • Encourage efficient and multinational teaching of specialist topics which might otherwise not be taught at all, or only in a very restricted number of universities;
  • Enable students and teachers to work together in multinational groups and so benefit from special learning and teaching conditions not available in a single institution, and to gain new perspectives on the topic being studied;
  • Allow members of the teaching staff to exchange views on teaching content and new curricula approaches and to test teaching methods in an international classroom environment.

An IP can be a one-off activity or repeated over a limited number of years (maximum duration of funding three consecutive years, annual application).

It may not consist of research activities or conferences, but should provide something new in terms of learning opportunities, skills development, access to information, etc. for the participating teachers and students.

The following desirable features should be noted:

  • The ratio of staff to students should guarantee active classroom participation and promote an element of curricular development in the implementation of the IP;
  • The IP should be integrated in the study programme of the participating students and IP for which the students receive full recognition are particularly encouraged;
  • In order to enhance the European impact of IP, those involving universities from more than three countries may be given priority;
  • Particular consideration will be given to IP in subject areas which do not readily lend themselves to extended periods of study abroad for their students;
  • IP which contribute to the dissemination of knowledge in rapidly evolving and new areas will receive special consideration.

Selection of IP participants (students and teachers) is carried out by the IP consortium.