The third edition of the Blended Intensive Program (BIP) took place in Den Bosch, the Netherlands, and brought together around 160 European students.
Between April 7 and 11, 2025, the third edition of the Blended Intensive Program (BIP) - Game Simulation: CESIM Firm - took place at the Avans Hogeschool in Den Bosch, the Netherlands. The University of Minho's School of Economics, Management and Political Science was represented by ten master's students and Joana Cima, an EEG lecturer, who participated in a week of intensive work in an international and collaborative environment.
BIP is an initiative integrated into the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 program, which promotes mixed mobility - physical and virtual - to enrich the learning experiences of students and teachers. This project is the result of a collaboration between La Salle Saint-Étienne (France), the University of Minho (Portugal), and Avans Hogeschool (Netherlands), with the participation of other partner institutions.A week of strategic challenges in management
The central activity of the program consisted of an interactive business simulation, called CESIM Firm, which put participants at the heart of strategic decision-making in production, marketing, logistics, and finance. This practical approach allowed students to apply knowledge acquired throughout their academic careers and develop crucial skills in operational and financial management, strategic thinking, and multicultural teamwork.
EEG|UMinho representation
The EEG|UMinho delegation comprised students with master's degrees in International Business and Management and Business who were part of multinational teams alongside colleagues from five European higher education institutions. Professor Joana Cima accompanied the students and participated in the working and discussion sessions, reinforcing the role of the University of Minho as an active partner in internationalization initiatives.
Participants' testimonies
"Taking part in BIP in Avans was a truly enriching experience, both academically and personally. Although challenging, the project enabled me to develop intercultural skills, meet colleagues from other countries and put management and economics concepts into practice. It was undoubtedly a unique initiative and one of the highlights of my academic life."
— Bruno Maia, Master's in International Business
“Taking part in BIP in Den Bosch was an incredibly enriching experience. For a week, I collaborated with people from different cultures and perspectives, which broadened my horizons and made me reflect on the true meaning of teamwork. Managing a fictitious company, with strategic decisions and tight deadlines, made everything even more challenging and impactful. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants to grow personally and academically. A week worth a semester!"
— Rafael Mendes, Master in Management and Business
