On 15 November 2024, the HIBLend consortium (for more details see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe , February 2023) met for its third Transnational Project Meeting in Brno, Czechia. The meeting served as a pivotal moment in advancing the project’s mission to enhance blended mobility in higher education. Partners engaged in a series of discussions focused on evaluating ongoing tasks and planning the next steps for the last year of the project. 

A key session, led by Nikolina Đurić from ACA, explored the concept of the HIBLend Community of Practitioners (CoP). The partners brainstormed about strategies making this network a driving force for innovation in Student Blended Mobility (SBM). The meeting also featured the presentation of results from a series of exploratory sessions with  various stakeholder groups, including administrative and academic staff, students, quality assurance agencies, and national funding bodies involved in SBM.  

These mini-Delphi sessions explored the institutional goals, resources, and quality assurance frameworks for SBM, offering a nuanced understanding of how it is perceived and implemented by various higher education institutions.  

Key Findings included: 

• Structured Guidance and Support: Institutions frequently face challenges due to a lack of structured guidance for SBM. Common obstacles include funding insecurity, limited digital skills among staff, and unclear quality assurance criteria. Efforts are underway at Tampere University of Applied Sciences to develop detailed guidelines for academics working on Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs). 
• Student Engagement and Motivation: Academics noted that topics in BIPs are often too general, leading students to focus primarily on the physical mobility experience. To improve engagement, academics suggested introducing continuity between online and physical components, as well as creating compelling virtual activities that enhance the learning experience for both local and international students. 
• Integration of Online and Physical Components: A recurring challenge is ensuring better alignment between online and physical components. Students often emphasise the in-person mobility experience, undervaluing the virtual experience. Academics have highlighted the importance of designing interconnected and engaging online activities to provide continuity between components and ensure meaningful learning outcomes. 
• Quality Assurance Frameworks: Some quality assurance agencies have established frameworks for evaluating e-learning and blended courses, which can inform SBM quality assurance. However, integrating these standards into institutional systems and aligning them with the specific needs of SBM remains an area for improvement. 
• Variability in Funding Practices: Differences in how funding for SBM is allocated and evaluated across countries create inconsistencies. Agencies such as EDUFI (Finland) and OeAD (Austria) emphasised the need to align BIPs with broader strategic priorities, such as inclusion, sustainability, and internationalisation. 
• Academic Perspectives: Academics have voiced concerns about the lack of structured incentives and recognition for their involvement in SBM, which is linked to the lack of incentives for broader engagement in international activities. Examples of good practice can be found in Finland where several institutions included BIP-related work in the official teaching workload. Additionally, there is a call for clearer evaluation criteria, including transparent pass/fail systems and alignment of learning outcomes with international and intercultural objectives. 

These findings highlight the need for a more robust, cohesive and inclusive approach to SBM, involving better guidance, enhanced digital skills, structured quality assurance, and alignment with broader institutional and national priorities.  

As HIBLend progresses, the consortium remains committed to fostering a culture of excellence in blended mobility, paving the way for a more interconnected and inclusive European Higher Education Area. Stay tuned for updates on the Community of Practitioners and the next stages of the HIBLend journey!