BLENDED INTENSIVE PROGRAMME
Go for a Digital Product:
Physical Interactive Stories
1 April 2025
The Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) ‘Go for a Digital Product: Physical Interactive Stories’, is jointly coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (IPCA), the University of Burgos (UBU), and the Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK).
This BIP is an intensive blended short programme bringing together students from the fields of digital animation, games, design, information technology, electronics, robotics, mechatronics and mechanical engineering.
This second edition focuses on the development of a physical interactive prototype of an educational superhero — an “Edu-Superhero” — blending character-driven storytelling with interactive physical interfaces.
The final outcome will be a prototype of a digital product (Edu-Superhero) for educational purposes, integrating digital narrative tools (such as character design, storyboard, and animation) with physical computing elements (such as controllers, sensors, and movement mechanisms).
Schedule
28 April to 16 May 2025
Online sessions
Monday to Friday from 9h00 to 13h00 and Independent Work from 14h00 to 18h00.
Face-to-face week
From 12 to 16 May at IPCA in Barcelos, Portugal
Classes will take place from 9h00 to 18h00.
Mode of delivery
Blended
Language of instruction
English
3 ECTS credits
How to apply
Fill in the application form
Deadline for applications
11 April 2025
Eligible participants
Bachelor (Cycle 6) and Master’s (Cycle 7) students in design, information technologies and engineering.
Selection criteria
Motivation, expectations, wide representation of subject areas/fields and balanced participation of RUN-EU universities. The selection team will also take steps towards ensuring diversity and representativity.
Academic recognition
The participants who successfully complete this RUN-EU BIP will receive a Certificate of Participation and a Transcript of Records jointly issued by the organising institutions.
Scholarships
ERASMUS+ Grant
Please contact the International Office at your university for financial support.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this Blended Intensive Programme, students will be able to:
- Explore what it means to collaboratively design and prototype an interactive digital product with an educational component. They will gain hands-on experience in interdisciplinary teamwork, combining creative and technical approaches across design, animation, storytelling, electronics, and physical computing.
- Students from design, animation, and game-related backgrounds will develop technical and conceptual skills in character and concept design, storyboarding, and digital animation, while engaging with physical prototyping tools and interactive systems. Engineering and technology students will become familiar with design thinking methodologies and learning how to translate educational goals into functional, expressive, and creative interactive experiences.
- Learn how to co-create in multicultural, multidisciplinary teams, applying user-centred design approaches to develop educational tools. They will reflect how physical-digital artifacts can be used to foster inclusion, learning, and social impact.
Course Leaders
António Moreira (IPCA)
Cristina Coutinho (IPCA)
João Borges Silva (IPCA)
Jordi Rovira (UBU)
Timo Karppinen (HAMK)
Lecturers
António Moreira (IPCA)
Cristina Coutinho (IPCA)
João Borges Silva (IPCA)
Jordi Rovira (UBU)
Dionisio Santidrian (UBU)
Timo Karppinen (HAMK)
Fernando Pacheco (HAMK)
Coordination
IPCA, Portugal
UBU, Spain
HAMK, Finland
Contact run-eu@ipca.pt if you have any further questions.