Technology meets team spirit: Erasmus+ BIP brings international students to Vienna
21 May, 2025
36 students and six teachers gathered at UAS Technikum Wien to complete and present their innovative projects as part of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program (BIP) Technology in a Smart Society.
From May 13 to 17, 2025, 36 students and six lecturers from the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Technology in a Smart Society gathered at UAS Technikum Wien to finalize and present their innovative projects. Two employees from the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien (Faculty of Industrial Engineering), Mo Aburaia and Cedric Steininger, were also present at the event. Now in its fourth year in Vienna, the program continues to bring together interdisciplinary minds to tackle real-world challenges through technology and collaboration.
The Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme, originally launched in 2022 in partnership with Lapland University of Applied Sciences and Fontys University of Applied Sciences, kicked off this year with a short-term mobility stay in Eindhoven in February 2025. Instead of traveling to Rovaniemi as in previous years, students visited the Philips Museum, where they explored the legacy of innovation and gained insights into technological evolution that informed their own project development.
Building trust and understanding across borders
During the February stay in Eindhoven, students formed international teams and laid the groundwork for their projects. Workshops on development of Mechatronic Systems, node-red, and machine learning provided essential technical skills. Teambuilding events and cultural excursions helped the diverse groups build trust and understanding across borders, setting the stage for effective online collaboration during the semester.
The project work culminated in a dynamic week at UAS Technikum Wien in May 2025. Throughout the week, teams refined their concepts and prepared their final presentations. On Friday, they showcased their results before a jury. This year’s standout projects included an intelligent plant irrigation system, a smart watch specially designed for health monitoring, smart street signs, as well as a medicine distributor.
„My highlight was the day before presentation, where we worked the whole day on integration and fixing final issues in team, while making it work in the end and rewarding ourselves with some of that beer.“
Participants visited the Digital Factory at the University of UAS Technikum Wien
Beyond the project presentations, participants toured the university’s Digital Factory and enjoyed cultural highlights such as a guided city tour of Vienna and a shared group dinner, further strengthening the bonds among the international cohort. When asked, “What was the most valuable input you received during the BIP” one participant reflected: „Taking action often drives progress.“
As the program continues to grow over the years, it remains a model for how technology and international cooperation can empower students to address global challenges with creativity and practical solutions.
Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme
The Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme combines short-term mobility with virtual collaboration, offering students a flexible format to gain intercultural and academic experience. It is especially valuable for those who cannot participate in long-term exchanges due to personal or academic constraints.
Photo credit for all images in this article:
Fabian Orner: www.fabianorner.com
Further Links:
Smart Society project of 2024
Fontys UAS
Lapland University of Applied Sciences
Faculty of Industrial Engineering – UAS Technikum Wien
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