About the course
Business and Arts Innovation Lab (BAIL) is an interdisciplinary intensive course for students from 9 European universities with different fields of study. The course offers a unique opportunity to present yourself internationally to a potential future professional network, learn from experts across Europe, and work with both creatives and people from completely different fields of study.
Time and place
The course consists of a digital and a physical part.
The digital part is the following dates:
- Online-session 1
- late February (date to be confirmed soon)
- Online-session 2
- Early March (date to be confirmed soon)
The physical part of the course will be held in week 11, 15–19 March 2027, in Utrecht, the Netherlands.Arrival: Sunday the 14th of March, departure: Saturday the 20th of March.
Student experience
«For us, the BAIL event was a perfect mix of learning, culture, and fun»
Read what former students from UiA say about participating:
As music students, we also saw how interdisciplinary collaboration can affect us as musicians. Working with students from different fields opened our eyes to new ways of thinking as artists. It gave us ideas on how to integrate sustainable solutions into our artistic projects and how we can use music to challenge contemporary issues. We became more aware of our role as artists in society and how we can help solve global challenges through our work. (...) We encourage other UiA students to sign up for similar projects to experience the same benefits we did. It will not only enrich their academic and personal lives but also better prepare them for a globalized work environment.
What is a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP)?
A BIP is an educational programme in which you co-operate with students from different countries across Europe. It is funded by the Erasmus+ programme for higher education in Europe. The teaching staff are from different universities across Europe as well. It is called ‘intensive’ because all the learning activities take place in a relatively short period of time. Particularly on the 5 days that you spend together with all other participants and staff you can expect rather intensive education, which according to participants in past BIPs is what makes it a unique experience.
To many students (and staff members alike!) a BIP is a life-changing event and a superb way to build international professional connections and friendships for life. ‘Blended’ programmes include an online part in addition to the 5 days spent ‘on-site’.
Why join us in Utrecht in March 2027?
Most of us grew up with a concept of value that is explained mainly in financial terms. However, over the past decades social and environmental impact in innovation have become more prominent. This is also reflected in the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Many of us are looking for ways to balance the financial value that is deeply rooted in society with other types of value. You may also want to change your thinking but you probably do not exactly know how. Cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural co-operation can play a central role in finding new ways.
The aim of BAIL is to learn about sustainable value creation together with students, entrepreneurs, academics, and creatives from many countries across Europe, all bringing in your own experience, knowledge and skills.
Roughly half of the students and staff have an arts background (music, visual arts) and the others are from backgrounds such as finance, business information systems, journalism, marketing and communication. Different scientific disciplines have different traditions and ways of approaching issues in society. Students, lecturers and researchers alike can be inspired by hearing how peers from other disciplines measure things, structure their ideas and turn them into action. People from different countries bring different cultures. This blend poses challenges but in an open atmosphere such as this IP a common language can be found.
You will be working in international, multidisciplinary teams on challenges with a focus on responsible innovation and value creation. The main challenge is real-life: it comes from an organisation in the host city. You are asked to provide inspiring input for a cultural organisation on making impact broader than financial returns. The Intensive Programme is delivered by an international team of lecturers/researchers and inspiring guest speakers. It consists of 5 intensive days and additional online, centrally organised study activities starting before the plenary gathering in Utrecht in March 2027.[
What will you learn?
Together with peer students from various countries and academic disciplines, you will learn:
- To recognise successes and failures in sustainable value creation in real-life cases. The practical examples will help you identify the cross-disciplinary connections that have been and could still be made by successful entrepreneurs and creators;
- To describe the value that has been and could still be created and the pivotal role the Cultural and Creative Sectors can play in societal change and innovation;
- To become familiar with experimentation as a common language and become comfortable with ambiguity and complex problems, all from the ‘safe’ knowledge & skill base that you bring from your own educational background;
The programme will challenge you content-, cultural- and language wise and will increase your self-awareness and confidence in operating in a multidisciplinary, international environment. On successful participation in the Blended Intensive Programme, you will receive a certificate, and if you wish also a Transcript of Records.
European universities involved in the project
- LAB/LUT Universities of Applied Sciences Finland
- Universitetet i Agder, Norway
- EPHEC, Belgium
- CBS International Business School Köln, Germany
- HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Netherlands
- Munster Technological University, Ireland
- CEU San Pablo University, Spain
- NMH Norges Musikkhøyskole, Norway
- The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark
Grants and individual cost
- Erasmus+ grant
- You will receive an Erasmus+ grant of €79 per day, in addition to a one-time travel grant of €309. The grant is paid out after you have completed the course and submitted the required forms.
- If you travel green, meaning by bus, train or car-sharing for the entire return journey, you may be eligible for an additional grant. The requirements for green travel are strict, and given Norway's geographical location it is often not practical, but it may be an option for some.
- Costs
- Course fee: €399 (includes accommodation, breakfast, all coffee breaks and lunches, a gala dinner, and learning materials).
- The grants may not cover all travel costs, so participants should expect to pay a share of the costs themselves.
How to apply
All students from the Faculty of Fine Arts can apply. Master's and Bachelor's students will be prioritized. Participation in the course does not automatically provide valid exemption from other mandatory teaching at UiA. Discuss possible clashes with your lecturer or course co-ordinator on forehand.
Application deadline 26. October. Apply here
Deadlines
- 26. October – Application deadline for participation in the program
- 04. November – Information meeting for students receiving an offer to participate
- 12. November – Binding registration
Contact us:
- linn.eriksen@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 20 46
- marius.l.igland@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 22 95
- roderick.s.udo@uia.no