16 Students Participate in the "Blended Intensive Programme" in Ghent, Belgium

Publishing Date: 19.02.2025

Having an international and interdisciplinary outlook is an essential part of the degree programmes offered by the Faculty of Social Work and Health. To foster this, HOGENT in Ghent, Belgium, and the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, the Netherlands, have collaborated with the Faculty of Social Work and Health at HAWK in Hildesheim, since 2012. For over a decade, two-day workshops on Community Development in Health and Social Care have been an annual feature of an elective module in the bachelor's degree programme in Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Physiotherapy.

The programme was also open to students of Social Work. The BIP offers a blended learning model, incorporating a virtual component to prepare and support participants before they engage in an in-person, one-week mobility phase at a partner university. During this phase, students engage in collaborative learning experiences. In October 2024, sixteen students began their preparation for this phase in Ghent with professors Sandra Schiller and Corinna Ehlers.

 


In October 2024, 16 students started prepared for their participation in the one-week mobility phase in Ghent with Prof. Dr. Sandra Schiller and Prof. Dr. Corinna Ehlers. The preparation for the mobility phase included online meetings and collaborative work among students and faculty from five degree programs: Occupational Therapy, Exercise Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Social Work. Students engaged in both synchronous and asynchronous tasks within international groups. The on-site meeting took place at HOGENT, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, where 53 students from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Rwanda took part in the programme.
 

This week in Ghent from 25 to 29 November offered a diverse range of experiences:

Studierende beim Social Dinner

By the exchange with over 60 participating students and colleagues, as well as other guest speakers and employees of service institutions from Ghent neighbourhoods and the city administration: the various activities gave rise to numerous professional discussions and conversations about cultural experiences. A highlight was the social dinner at Eetcafé Toreke, fostering deeper connections. (Photo 1: Students at the social dinner at the training and job creation project Eetcafé Toreke in the district Sluizeken-Tolhuis-Ham)

Hörsaal in Gent

By the varied input at the university: the programme at the university not only offered guest lectures on various elements of community development, local and international practical experiences, but the students also worked on different topics in small groups and presented their own interprofessional ideas for cross-sectoral cooperation in a municipal context on the last day. (Photo 2 BIP lecture in the lecture hall at HOGENT)

By the campus and premises of HOGENT: It is always exciting to be at other universities and gain new impressions. Noteworthy features included a board games shelf in the foyer, promoting interactive learning, (photo 3 shelf in foyer) and an outdoor seminar space with a blackboard for teaching in good weather (photo 4 blackboard for outdoor teaching).

A shelf in the lobby
A chalk board for teaching outdoors on campus
Gnet mit weihnachtlicher Beleuchtung

By activities and visits to institutions in the city of Ghent: As part of the BIP, we visited the Stadsmuseum Gent (STAM) to learn about the historical development of the city of Ghent and its different districts, took part in a tour of the district of Sluizeken-Tolhuis-Ham and visited various social organisations there, such as De Thuishaven: Service centre for senior citizens, De Sloep: Family support to vulnerable families with young children, City of Ghent: Asylum and Refugees Team, Urban Reception Initiative – Newcomers Vzw Jong: Youth Welfare Work.

And by a special highlight: the magical Christmas lights in Ghent added a special ambiance to the visit (photo 5 light sculpture ‘Blauwe Vogels’ on the river Leie with St. Michael's Bridge in the background).

Gruppenbild von allen Teilnehmenden auf dem Campus der HOGENT

Feedback from Hildesheim: Students Highlighted the Programme’s Impact:


‘Enriching lectures and intellectual stimulation’
‘Great international exchange, great city, great people – simply great!’
‘It was great for me to not only get to know a new country, but also new students from my own university, the Netherlands and Belgium, and being able to exchange ideas with them. Discovering and understanding the field of Social Work was invaluable for me personally.’
‘An enriching journey with engaging input and interesting people.’
 

A glimpse into the future

Looking ahead, the next interdisciplinary BIP on community development is scheduled for December 2025, hosted by Hogeschool van Amsterdam in the Netherlands.