Vital Schools: Designing Movement-Friendly and Sustainable Playgrounds is a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) that empowers students to transform conventional schoolyards into inclusive, active, and environmentally sustainable spaces. Anchored in interdisciplinary, international collaboration, this second edition of the course takes place in Burgos (Spain) and combines online learning with an immersive physical week of applied research and co-creation.
Through a blend of theoretical exploration and hands-on design, participants engage with topics such as movement pedagogy, nudging techniques, and sustainable infrastructure. Working closely with local schools and diverse stakeholders—including pupils, teachers, and maintenance staff—students analyse real playgrounds, identify opportunities for change, and propose context-sensitive, research-informed redesigns. The programme culminates in a final group presentation and maquette, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and a commitment to healthier school environments.
The main product of the Vital Schools BIP is a comprehensive and visually presented redesign of a real school playground. This includes:
A research-informed vision for a movement-friendly and sustainable school environment.
A physical maquette or digital model, developed in interdisciplinary and international teams, showcasing spatial solutions to promote active play, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability.
A stakeholder-validated proposal, incorporating feedback from pupils, teachers, school management, and maintenance staff.
A professional group presentation, delivered to participating schools and peers, demonstrating the process, choices, and pedagogical grounding behind the proposed redesign.
The final result is both actionable and inspiring: a prototype intervention that aligns with the school’s reality and demonstrates how education, physical activity, and sustainable development can intersect within a single, inclusive schoolyard.
Join an international learning experience that bridges education, health, and sustainability. Vital Schools offers the opportunity to work hands-on with real schools, develop creative solutions, and make a meaningful impact on student wellbeing. Let’s reimagine playgrounds—greener, more active, more inclusive.
29th of September 2025 to 3rd of November 2025
English
Academic recognition is subject to each participant's home institution policy. As a minimum standard within RUN-EU, students completing the Vital Schools BIP will have the 3 ECTS certified and recognised in their Diploma Supplement. Depending on institutional procedures, the course may also be integrated as part of elective modules, international experience credits, or practical placements.
Participants are encouraged to consult their academic coordinator or international office to ensure proper accreditation within their study programme.
This BIP is primarily designed for students in the field of Education, particularly those interested in promoting physical activity, health, and inclusive learning environments in schools.
However, it also welcomes students from technical disciplines such as Civil Construction, Architecture, Urban Planning, or related areas, whose knowledge can contribute to the design and feasibility of sustainable and movement-friendly playgrounds.
Open to students from Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels (EQF levels 6–8) from RUN-EU partner institutions, with an interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and school wellbeing.
Application for this product is not yet possible.
Planned application opening date: 16th of June 2025
By the end of this Short Advanced Programme, students will be able to:
Understands and explains the need for a long-term, school-wide strategy to promote physical activity.
Identifies and applies behavioural nudging principles to stimulate movement in school environments.
Recognises and compares different educational approaches to promote physical activity in schools.
Understands key stages and characteristics of human motor development across age groups.
Identifies the principles of inclusive, movement-friendly and environmentally sustainable school playgrounds.
Describes and explains the stages of the research process as applied to a real educational setting.
Assesses the current state of a school’s playground using multiple sources and stakeholder input.
Develops a realistic and innovative proposal for an active school environment, mindful of local constraints.
Compares practices from other countries to enrich one’s own professional and cultural understanding.
Completes a recommendation report incorporating stakeholder feedback and reflective insights.
Integrates new ideas and proven practices into a final report proposing pedagogical and spatial improvements.
Demonstrates initiative, empathy, and shared responsibility in international group collaboration.
Reflects critically on the group process and evaluates personal contributions to team outcomes.
In the event that applications exceed the available number of places, participants will be selected based on the following criteria:
Study Affinity
Priority will be given to students whose academic background aligns with the core topics of the BIP, such as Education, Physical Activity, Civil Construction, Architecture, or related fields.
Motivation Email
Applicants must submit a brief motivation paragraph by email, demonstrating their interest in the topic, willingness to collaborate in an international setting, and expected contribution to the programme.
English Language Proficiency
A minimum B1 level of English (CEFR) is required to participate effectively in discussions and group work.
Academic Records (if needed)
In more competitive cases, academic performance may be considered as an additional criterion to support fair and balanced selection.
Efforts will be made to ensure diversity, gender balance, and institutional representation within the selected group.
Product label: RBP-DSMOVPLG-01