Novia UAS hosts its largest ever Blended Intensive Programme in Engineering Ethics
Novia University of Applied Sciences organised its largest Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) so far at the Vaasa campus from 6–10 October 2025. The week-long Engineering Ethics course (3 ECTS) brought together 28 Erasmus+ students from 10 partner institutions across Europe, making it not only the first BIP hosted at Vaasa campus but also the biggest one Novia UAS has organised so far.
Students joined from Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Spain, representing ten different partner universities. The course was co-taught by Senior Lecturer Roger Nylund from Novia UAS and Professor Guido Hölker from Hochschule Wismar, University of Applied Sciences: Technology, Business and Design, Germany, creating a truly international and collaborative learning environment.
Shaping responsible engineers for tomorrow
As new technologies continue to evolve rapidly, the significance of engineering ethics is greater than ever. The course encouraged students to reflect on real-world ethical
challenges and to develop the skills needed for responsible, autonomous decision-making in their future careers.
“The students were active and participated really nicely in the discussions,” said Nylund. “The strongest impression was when I had the pleasure to follow how Guido really connected with the students and shared his very interesting material with them.
Ethical issues are constantly present in everything we do. In working life, we all tend to forget or dismiss the ethical aspect of our decisions. Therefore, such one-week course focusing on the topic can be rewarding and should fill a function.”
A week of collaboration and inspiration
The atmosphere throughout the week was lively, reflective, and full of exchange. As one student put it: “The course was great. To be honest, when I applied, I was afraid it would be a bit boring, but the professors made it very interesting and engaging. One of the best short-term exchanges I have participated in or heard about! Thank you for organizing it!”
Hölker, who was visiting the Vaasa campus for the first time, shared: “The best moments didn’t take place in class, but around it, when students who initially stuck to their own groups began to mix. Hopefully, some lasting connections were made. Going abroad is always positive, and I’m sure the ease and welcoming atmosphere of this programme will encourage students to seek further international experiences in the future.
International collaboration, of course, always broadens the mind. Feeling welcome like I did during this week, and experiencing such seamless cooperation, was truly outstanding.”
Beyond lectures and group work, participants also got to experience Finnish culture and nature, enjoying a traditional sauna night and visiting the Replot Bridge and Kvarken Archipelago.
About the Blended Intensive Programme
Part of the Erasmus+ programme, Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) combine virtual learning with a short physical mobility period abroad. They bring together students from different countries and disciplines to work collaboratively on current and relevant topics, using digital learning methods that add value beyond regular study courses.