Porto University Centre hosts a BIP on Inclusive and Sustainable Management

The Faculty of Economic, Social and Business Sciences (FCESE) at Lusófona University - Porto University Centre promoted the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) under the theme Inclusive and Sustainable Management in Sport and Tourism, within the Erasmus+ programme, bringing together students and lecturers from different higher education institutions in an international context of learning, sharing and academic cooperation from 30 April to 4 May 2026.

Over the course of five days, the programme included a diverse set of activities aimed at reflection and the practical application of knowledge around key topics in sport and tourism management, namely inclusion, sustainability, innovation, territorial impact and organisational responsibility. The BIP structure sought to combine moments of theoretical framing with experiences of observation, analysis and collaborative work, promoting a consistent connection between academic knowledge and its application in real-world contexts.

In this context, the city of Porto played a central role as a learning environment. Experiencing the territory, observing its urban, tourism and social dynamics, as well as engaging with different organisational realities, enabled participants to develop a critical understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with building more inclusive and sustainable management models.

Among the activities developed, particular importance was given to the immersive component linked to the sports context, in collaboration with Futebol Clube do Porto, which provided participants with insight into operational, organisational and strategic dimensions related to event management. This component reinforced the applied nature of the programme and contributed to strengthening the connection between the content covered and its implementation contexts.

The involvement of students was one of the most significant aspects of this edition. Active participation in the sessions, the quality of intercultural interactions, the commitment shown in the proposed activities and the ability to critically apply acquired knowledge demonstrated not only the participants’ interest but also the pedagogical relevance of the BIP model as a tool for internationalisation and innovation in higher education.

At the end of the programme, students were challenged to design and present tourism business proposals in a pitch format, structured using the Business Model Canvas and aligned with the principles explored throughout the BIP. This exercise made it possible to assess the groups’ ability to transform observation, reflection and learning into concrete, coherent proposals suited to the current challenges of the sector.

This BIP therefore represented a particularly relevant academic experience, not only because of the diversity and quality of the activities developed, but also because of the value of international cooperation within the European higher education area.

Lusófona University and FCESE extend special thanks to Aspira University of Applied Sciences and Seeburg Castle University for the trust placed in this initiative and for the involvement of their students in this programme.

View BIP Photos on ULusófona’s Facebook