A Hybrid UNIC short course, September 26 – October 7 October, 2022

The Department of Digital Innovation, in collaboration with the Institute for the Future (IFF) and the UNIC Erasmus Office, organized a hybrid Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). The course began on September 26,2022 with a one-week online course delivery and continued on October 3,2022 with one week on-site delivery of a short course titled Introduction to Blockchain, NFTs and the Metaverse.

A BIP is an innovation in the Erasmus+ program generation 2021-2027 and it involves the mobility of a group which is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme. At least 3 Higher Education Institutes (HEI) must participate from 3 different programme countries. The programmes are designed to promote the use of innovative learning and teaching methods and to take advantage of the opportunities for online collaboration.

The UNIC BIP was offered in collaboration with HEIs that are part of two of the university’s alliances, namely NEOLAiA and NUSCT. Specifically, 20 students participating represent the University of Jaen (Spain), Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences (Lithuania) as well universities in Luxemburg and Liechtenstein.

This BIP offers an introduction to blockchain technologies and will cover a variety of hot topics such as digital currencies, DAOs, NFTs, the Metaverse and Web3 and discuss the new possibilities that blockchain has to offer to all industries.

UNIC is the coordinating university of the specific BIP and offers to its participants not only innovative ways of learning, teaching and training but a cultural experience as well via an excursion to the city of Pafos, a traditional dinner and the possibility to explore the city of Nicosia.

The BIP is towards its end and participants have expressed their great satisfaction with the programme as well as with their overall experience. As per their words: “such mobilities improve skills, promote inclusiveness, and facilitates access to international mobility”.

The Rector, Prof. Philippos Pouyioutas stated “I am extremely happy to host the First NEOLAiA and NUSCT event at the University of Nicosia. We are looking forward to organizing more such events and host students from our partner universities”.