BSVCBE2 Crossing Borders - Ways to Improve Participation

Contents and structure

Crossing Borders—Ways to Improve Participation is an international learning and teaching module designed for health and social science students. It aims to enhance students’ competencies as social educators, social workers, nurses, and child welfare professionals through a comparative study conducted in transnational and multidisciplinary project groups. The themes for the comparative analysis are relevant to professions within health- and social services all over.

The module has two primary objectives: (1) to examine the situations of individuals living in unfavorable social conditions and (2) to explore methods to improve their participation in society. This dual focus is crucial as increased self-determination can help mitigate perceived deviance.

In addition to the substantive knowledge gained, working in diverse international groups will develop students’ communication, presentation and research skills in English. The module begins with weekly video conferences lasting for six to eight weeks. In 2025, the module culminates with an Intensive Week (week 48) in Mittweida, Germany, at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences; here, students, mentors, and teachers from participating universities collaborate in person.

Participation in this module equips future professionals with the skills to justify their work in the practice field and communicate the value of their professions to the public. The module helps students cross professional and cultural boundaries by fostering international cooperation.

Crossing Borders—Ways to Improve Participation is an Erasmus Blended Intensive Program (BIP). BIP combines mandatory short physical mobility with mandatory virtual components, offering an innovative internationalisation experience. The physical mobility lasts one week, while the virtual component spans six to eight weeks with weekly meetings.

Please note that incoming students will not receive BIP funding if they have already received Erasmus funding for mobility.

Participating Institutions:

• Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Alkmaar and Haarlem, The Netherlands

Social work and Nursing students

• Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen and Sogndal, Norway

Social educators and Child protection and child welfare students

• Odisee University of Applied Sciences (in cooperation with Erasmus University College Brussels), Brussels, Belgium

Social work students

• Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, Mittweida, Germany

Social work students

• University of Complutense, Madrid, Spain

Social works students

• University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom

Mentors (master students)

Admission is limited.

Learning Outcome

A candidate who has completed their qualification should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge: The candidate...

• has a broad knowledge of multidisciplinary professional work in their own country
• is familiar with essential topics and theories regarding the effects of empowerment, diversity, primary and secondary deviance, stigma, and discrimination
• is familiar with different processes, tools and methods for promoting participation and inclusion and for preventing discrimination
• is familiar with research and development work in the field
• can update their knowledge in the field of social work

Skills: The candidate...

• can apply academic knowledge and relevant results of research and make well-founded choices in a transnational environment
• can reflect upon their educational practice and adjust it under supervision
• can find, evaluate and refer to information and scholarly subject matter and present it in a manner that sheds light on the problem

General competence: The candidate....

• can plan and carry out projects over time as part of a group following ethical requirements and principles
• can communicate important academic subject matters such as theories, problems and solutions, both in writing and orally in English
• can exchange opinions and experiences with others with a background in the field, thereby contributing to the development of good practice in a transnational group in English

Entry requirements

Full-time social educator students passed all subjects in the first year and third semester (VPL200 and VPL210) and BSVCBE1 Social Inclusion and Active Citizenship.

Part-time Social educator students passed all subjects in the first and second years and VPD200 and VPD210 (third year).

Child Protection and child welfare students passed all subjects in the first year and third semester (BARN200 and BARN210).

Teaching methods

Crossing Borders involves a variety of activities. Students participate in plenary sessions and work weekly in a transnational group through videoconferences. Students give oral presentations, and through the weekly video videoconference, they work process oriented towards a written paper. Further, students find and read the relevant theory and collect relevant data through field visits and interviews, which they present to the multinational group.

During the weekly online sessions, students lead and take minutes of their meetings. Further, they make an action plan for the next time together. Staff from the universities supervise the groups. Additionally, all groups have an English native-speaking mentor (master students) who participates in the online meeting to guide and manage communication and written English.

Videoconferences are an essential means of communication in the weeks leading up to the intensive week when all participants meet physically in Germany at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences in week 48, 2025.

Next to videoconferencing, students can choose other means of communication, such as WhatsApp.

Compulsory learning activities

The following compulsory work requirements must be approved for students to take the exam:

1. Participate in the weekly plenary and group session
2. Moderate (minimum) one VC group session
3. Write minutes from (minimum) one VC group session
4. Participate in the intensive week
5. Participate in the group oral presentation

The approved work requirement is valid for two semesters.

Assessment

Assessment: Written group assignment of 6000 words (+/- 10%).

Grading system: The grading scale used is A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade in the grading scale, and grade F is a fail.

New exam: Students who have failed a regular examination are entitled to hand in a re-edited article for a new evaluation.

Examination support material

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