Kickstart Your Creativity:
The Art of Building Your Business App
This Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) is jointly coordinated by NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (NHLS), Howest University of Applied Sciences (HOWEST) and Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (UPCA). This innovative learning experience introduces students to digital entrepreneurship by guiding them through the process of creating a business app or website. Students develop both technical and entrepreneurial skills, including design thinking, marketing, and AI-driven content creation. The programme emphasises sustainability, creativity, and real-world business application.
This BIP focuses on preparing students for the rapidly evolving digital business landscape. During this blended programme, students learn how to transform ideas into viable digital products such as apps or websites, even without prior technical experience. Participants explore key topics such as mobile app development, UI/UX design, Figma prototyping, and prompt engineering using AI tools. In addition, students gain essential entrepreneurial knowledge, including marketing strategies, market research, revenue models, and business planning.
The programme integrates Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and encourages students to create socially responsible solutions. Through collaboration in international teams, students strengthen intercultural communication and teamwork skills. The learning experience combines online preparation with an intensive face-to-face week, where students work on real-world challenges, develop their concepts, and present their final business ideas.
If you are interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital creation, this learning experience offers a unique opportunity to grow. Throughout this BIP, you will develop practical skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, enabling you to turn ideas into real business concepts. By combining creativity, technology, and business thinking, you will gain the confidence and tools needed to take the first steps towards launching your own digital product or start-up.
15th of February 2027 to 19th of March 2027
English
To be defined by each home institution. In general terms, most students will have this RUN-EU E+BIP certified in the Diploma Supplement, as a minimal condition upon approval from their study programmes.
This BIP is open to Bachelor students within the RUN-EU network.
Please contact the International Office or RUN-EU Office at your home institution for more information.
Programme at a glance
Kick-off and Introduction to the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP)
Welcome, teacher introduction, getting to know Leeuwarden and The Netherlands, explaining the Asynchronous Learning Path, the weekly Q&A sessions, what to expect etc.
- Introduction to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Introduction to business process management
- Principles of UI/UX
- Mobile app basics
- Figma introduction
- How to build your website
- Prompt engineering workshop: generating content with AI
The breakdown of learning units and hours will be explained to students during the first online session.
Theme: "Welcome to Leeuwarden"
09:00 – 10:00 Welcome to NHL Stenden. Who is Who, teachers introduce themselves. Student teams are named. Presentation of day/week timetable. Check-in.
10:00 – 11:00 Workshop: Design Thinking principles.
11:00 – 12:00 Students: Distill your group idea.
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch break
13:00 – 16:00 Students: Work on group idea and preparation for pitch.
16:00 – 18:00 All: European tasting experience at NHL Campus. Students will prepare their table with typical specialties of their country at the campus.
Tuesday 16 March 2027
Theme: "Develop your business plan and social media strategy"
09:00 – 11:00 Students: Stand-up and pitch your business idea.
11:00 – 12:00 Students: Rework/refine the business idea based on the feedback from the pitches.
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch break
13:00 – 15:30 Students: Distil your group idea & develop your business plan.
15:30 – 17:30 Students: Build your online presence. Step 1: Social media strategy.
Wednesday 17 March 2027
Theme: "Build your website"
09:00 – 12:00 All: Active teambuilding sports activity.
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch break
13:00 – 13:15 Students: Stand-up.
13:15 – 17:00 Students: Build your online presence: Step 2: Build your website with low-code tools.
Thursday 18 March 2027
Theme: "Build your mobile app"
09:00 – 10:00 Students: Stand-up.
10:00 – 12:00 Workshop: Build your mobile app.
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch break
13:00 – 15:00 Students: Build your mobile app (continued).
15:00 – 17:00 Students: Wrap up and prepare the pitch of the mobile app.
Friday 19 March 2027
Theme: "The Big Pitch"
09:00 – 10.00 Students: Stand-up.
10:00 – 12:00 All: The Big Pitch: Pitch your startup for possible investors.
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch break
13:00 – 15:00 Students: Reflection.
15:00 – 17:00 All: Farewell activity.
18:00 – 20:00 All: Closing dinner.
Note: Some parts of the week's programme may be subject to change.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme, learners will be able to:
- Focus on developing essential entrepreneurial and digital skills.
- Apply design thinking, create business models, and develop digital solutions such as apps or websites.
- Apply AI to accelerate related processes.
- Gain insight into marketing, customer needs, and business processes while integrating sustainability through SDGs.
- Strengthens communication and collaboration skills in intercultural contexts.
- Think creatively, act proactively, and develop solutions with real-world impact.
Selection criteria
- The selection will be based on the requirements and the submitted applications in terms of motivation.
- The selection team will also take steps to ensure diversity and representativeness.
- The total number of students to be selected is 40
- Connection with your own study programme is not necessary.
- Enrolled as a student with one of the RUN-EU partners.
- One of the selection criteria is a representation from each partner university.
- The composition of a multidisciplinary group will be looked at.
Involved organisations and persons
Howest University of Applied Sciences
Partner Organisation- Gene Vangampelaere (Instructor)
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
Lead Organisation, Host Organisation- Gert Draaisma (Instructor)
- Paul van Dijk (Lead Instructor)
Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave
Partner Organisation- Paula Loureiro (Instructor)
- Teresa Dieguez (Instructor)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Grant Agreement Number: 101124674
