From May 4 to 8, the Polytechnic University of Setúbal organized the Blended Intensive Program (BIP) “Technological Solutions for Healthy Development,” an IPS initiative, in collaboration with E³UDRES² and under the E³UDRES² label. For a week, Setúbal became a meeting place for students, faculty, and experts from different European countries, united by the common goal of reflecting on how technology can contribute to healthier, more sustainable, and more inclusive societies.
The program, which combined a preparatory online component with intensive in-person activities, fostered an international environment of learning, collaboration, and experience-sharing. Throughout the week, participants worked in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, developing technological solutions applied to real-world challenges related to health, well-being, sustainability, and social impact. Through design thinking methodologies, brainstorming sessions, prototyping activities, and project presentations, students were challenged to think creatively, critically, and collaboratively. More than just finding answers, the goal was to stimulate new perspectives, promote innovation, and reinforce the importance of collaboration across different fields of knowledge.
The program also included lectures and workshops on topics such as innovation, sustainability, communication, and technology, as well as activities related to the local area and environmental awareness, including initiatives developed as part of the Sesimbra Natura project.
Connection across academic backgrounds
Beyond the academic and technical components, the BIP also stood out for its strong human and intercultural dimension – through challenges, working sessions, and social gatherings, connections were forged among participants from different cultural and academic backgrounds, reinforcing values such as cooperation, empathy, and European citizenship. The experience allowed students to develop fundamental skills for current and future challenges, particularly in the areas of intercultural communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptation to international contexts. At the same time, it contributed to strengthening cooperation among the E³UDRES² partner institutions and to consolidating a vision of higher education that is more collaborative, innovative, and closely connected to society.
In a global context marked by increasingly complex challenges in the areas of health, sustainability, and inclusion, initiatives such as this BIP demonstrate the importance of European collaboration in developing solutions that have a real impact on communities. “Technological Solutions for Healthy Development” thus reaffirmed the commitment of E³UDRES² and IPS to a more international, participatory, and future-oriented higher education.
Links
➞ Polytechnic University of Setúbal
Article created by: IPS
