How can we design healthy and liveable urban spaces? Students and PhD candidates tackled this challenge as part of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), the on-site component took place from 20 to 24 April 2026 in Bratislava.
A total of 22 young researchers and mentors from the partner universities participated in this year's program, themed "Healthy Cities." The Faculty of Human Geography and Planning was represented by a group of five students and PhD candidates (Adrian Fojud, Dawid Niemier, Barbara Sadowska, Paulina Wilk, Hubert Wulbach), as well as Prof. Barbara Maćkiewicz and Dr Przemysław Ciesiółka. Alongside them, representatives from our partner universities, members of AESOP, worked on the tasks:
- Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), the host of the trip – 4 participants, mentors: Dr Milan Husár, Dr Sıla Ceren Varış Husar;
- Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT) – 8 participants, mentors: Dr Jan Bittner, Matus Berak;
- Brno University of Technology (VUT) – 5 participants, mentors: Dr Radek Toman, Dr Kateřina Singer, and Marek Hlavička.
Before the participants gathered in the capital of Slovakia, they attended online introductory sessions about the BIP program. During the in-person portion of the event, they were divided into five international teams. Each group was assigned a different study area, where they conducted urban analyses, developed a vision for the area’s growth, and proposed milestones for achieving their objectives.
Additionally, guest lectures were delivered by Prof. Maroš Finka and Dr Matej Jaššo. Their expertise and support enabled the teams to examine urban issues from multiple perspectives – ranging from innovation to social considerations.
However, the on-site visit does not mark the end of the work. The teams still have online consultations planned, during which they shall refine their projects and subsequently present them at a forum.
The trip to Bratislava marks the next stage of fruitful international cooperation. Last year, the Faculty of Human Geography and Planning had the pleasure of hosting partners from Bratislava and Prague during the BIP event ‘Does the post-socialist city still exist? Between myth and reality. We are delighted that the Brno University of Technology has also joined the group of participants in this edition.
We encourage you to take advantage of future programmes under the Erasmus+ scheme! It is not only a great opportunity to broaden your research horizons and gain practical knowledge, but also a chance to establish international connections.
