Designed to broaden participation and support innovative teaching and learning formats, Blended mobility (BM) – and in particular Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) – have quickly become one of the most dynamic innovations under the Erasmus+ Programme 2021–2027.  

While uptake has grown quickly and early studies (including ACA’s HIBLend project) suggest that students value the flexibility and shorter duration of these formats, the current evidence base remains fragmented. There is still limited systematic, cross-country understanding of who participates in blended mobility, whether it effectively reaches students who would otherwise not engage in mobility, and what learning outcomes and skills are developed through these experiences. 

Against this backdrop, the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) has launched a new study entitled “Mapping the benefits of blended mobility”. The study is coordinated by the Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannís) in collaboration with the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI), the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS), the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education (Nuffic), and the Irish Higher Education Authority (HEA). 

The study will explore student motivations and participation patterns, perceived benefits and challenges, and the extent to which blended mobility contributes to the development of transversal skills such as digital collaboration, intercultural competence, and adaptability. It will also examine whether BM can act as a springboard to further Erasmus+ mobility, and how factors such as institutional type, national context, and participation in European University alliances influence uptake. 

Methodologically, the project combines desk research and analysis of existing Erasmus+ datasets with a survey targeting students from the five countries with blended mobility experience. This will be complemented by focus groups in participating countries to capture more in-depth insights. Data collection is taking place from May to August 2026, followed by data analysis in the autumn. The final report is expected in December 2026, being followed by multiple dissemination activities.  

The results will provide valuable input for National Agencies, higher education institutions, and policy makers, supporting evidence-based reflection on the role of blended mobility in the next Erasmus+ programme phase.