Student’s International Erasmus+ Programme on Bioenergy Systems

At the beginning of May, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences brought together an international group of students and teachers to focus on bioenergy and the bioeconomy. Participants arrived from Spain and the Netherlands for the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme held in Vaasa.

Vaasa University of Applied Sciences hosted an Erasmus+-funded international Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) during the first week of May. The topic of the course was bioenergy, bioeconomy and their value chains. The BIP course gathered around 40 students and teachers from three higher education institutions, EUSS School of Engineering in Barcelona, Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen, and Vaasa University of Applied Sciences to Palosaari campus.

BIP is a short and intensive international study module that combines online learning, expert lectures, group work, and an on-campus period. During the course, students worked in five international and multidisciplinary teams.

Key themes of the course included small-scale biomass and side streams, bioenergy technologies and the local significance of bioenergy in the Vaasa region and in Finland. The case company was local Stormossen biogas plant. Students also explored technological, business, and societal perspectives.

“The aim of this programme was to help students understand how bioenergy can support Europe’s green energy transition and sustainable development goals and to practise working in international groups,” says Shekhar Satpute, Senior Lecturer at Vaasa University of Applied Sciences.

In addition to working on the course, students had time during the week to explore Vaasa University of Applied Sciences’ campus and especially Technobothnia teaching and research laboratory. On Wednesday, the group visited Stormossen and learned about the cultures of the participating countries through presentations.

Dani, a Spanish student of energy and Environmental Engineering, and Jesse, a Dutch student of Industrial Engineering, were pleased with the BIP week.

“This has been a really unique experience, and the best part has been meeting different people from different countries, talking with them, and gaining new perspectives,” says Dani.
“I would definitely recommend Blended Intensive Programmes for others! Overall, this has been a great experience, and I have learned a lot,” says Jesse.