https://hdl.handle.net/10481/48048 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 16:44:20 GMT 2026-04-05T16:44:20Z https://hdl.handle.net/10481/111819 Designing a Blended Intensive Programme for international and interdisciplinary landscape education. Serrano Montes, José Luis; Sarmento, João; Rodríguez Segura, Francisco Javier; Meneghello, Sabrina Since the creation of the European Higher Education Area in 2010, there has been a significant expansion of international training programmes across Europe. In this context, Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) have recently been introduced as part of the new generation of Erasmus+ programmes for the 2021–2027 period. This initiative promotes cooperation among universities from different countries by offering short-term learning experiences that combine a virtual component with an on-site phase. BIPs typically address innovative topics with a strong interdisciplinary dimension that are generally not integrated into the regular curricula of the participating universities. The aim of this chapter is to present and analyse the design and outcomes of the second BIP on landscape (BIP-GEO 2025), organised by three European universities: the University of Minho (UM), the University of Granada (UGR), and the University of Padua (UNIPD). This interdisciplinary programme, developed during the 2024/2025 academic year, focused on the study of landscape transformations in peripheral rural areas of southern Europe. With the University of Minho acting as host institution and coordinator, the BIP involved 27 undergraduate and master’s students from various degree programmes at the three partner universities. The design of the BIP was based on the experience gained in the previous edition (BIP-GEO 2024), coordinated by the University of Granada. The training programme was structured around a set of collaborative learning activities, both theoretical and practical, aimed at familiarising students with the current challenges and issues affecting peripheral rural landscapes. To this end, several international workshops—both virtual and on-site—were organised to facilitate interaction among students and academic staff from disciplines related to landscape planning and management at the three participating institutions. The BIP was organised into two phases: i) Virtual phase: Selected students participated in different training modules, engaged in thematic debates in international tandems, and developed a group research initiation project. ii) On-site phase (University of Minho): This phase included three field trips to rural areas in northern Portugal, focused on observing and reflecting on the challenges faced by peripheral rural areas and their planning and management needs. In addition, two sessions were devoted to the presentation and discussion of group projects, along with a lecture session delivered by specialists in the field. The coordinators plan to organise a new edition of the programme in Italy in 2026, building on the foundations established by the two previous editions of this international landscape training programme. By offering an international perspective, this BIP seeks to foster collaboration and the exchange of experiences among future landscape science professionals in southern Europe. It is hoped that this chapter will serve as inspiration for academic staff interested in designing and organising blended mobility programmes. https://hdl.handle.net/10481/111819 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/102059 No me chilles, que no te veo. Del urbanismo y la ordenación del territorio en Andalucía (1981-2021) Ruiz Moya, Noelia; Sánchez Escolano, Luis Miguel https://hdl.handle.net/10481/102059 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/102030 The construction of sustainable territorial models in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic: lessons from medium-sized mediterranean cities Ruiz Moya, Noelia; Sánchez Escolano, Luis Miguel; Navas González, Álvaro In recent decades, medium-sized cities have become the setting for new, complex urban development processes, which result from new forms of land use produced by improvements in technology, infrastructure and mobility. These processes have given rise to tensions and conflicts between competing land uses which are vying for control of the limited available resources. In many cases, this can deepen pre-existing spatial imbalances or give rise to new ones. Planning, in its different forms, has yet to provide an effective framework of reference in response to these new scenarios that can transcend the purely technical aspects of urban planning to provide a truly integrated form of territorial management. These processes also apply to medium-sized cities in the Mediterranean region, and to coastal cities in particular. Many of these cities enjoy great demographic, economic and social dynamism, but they are also the scene of major territorial imbalances which are reflected in the exorbitant growth proposed in current urban development plans. In this research, we study three representative examples of such cities—Vélez-Málaga, Motril and Roquetas de Mar (Andalusia-Spain)—analysing and describing the complex processes currently underway. We also propose new planning strategies and obtain a number of important lessons for the sustainable management of these areas. https://hdl.handle.net/10481/102030 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/102029 Dinámicas territoriales y desarrollo local: la Autovía del 92 en Andalucía Oriental Sánchez Escolano, Luis Miguel; Ruiz Moya, Noelia La A-92 fue el gran proyecto en materia de infraestructura viaria de la Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía. Articula desde Sevilla a través de Granada el interior de la región con el Levante, recorriendo una zona afectada por intensos procesos de despoblamiento y desestructuración de las redes territoriales. Desde la perspectiva del paradigma del desarrollo endógeno y local, se ha trabajado con bibliografía especializada, material estadístico y cartográfico, abordando el papel de las políticas públicas y las infraestructuras en la constitución de ejes de desarrollo. Todo ello bajo la premisa de que una infraestructura no genera desarrollo por sí misma, ya que en ocasiones y, por la proyección de las lógicas del sistema económico sobre el espacio, da lugar a procesos de concentración/vaciamiento. Por eso necesita complementarse con iniciativas que movilicen el capital natural y humano desde abajo, dinamizando los sistemas productivos locales y favoreciendo el re equilibrio territorial. En esta aportación se reflexiona sobre la capacidad que tienen las iniciativas de origen endógeno en la multiplicación de los impactos positivos de las grandes obras, así como en la lucha contra los desequilibrios territoriales. Finalmente, se extraen lecciones para el desarrollo endógeno sostenible y la cohesión territorial válidas para este caso y otros análogos. https://hdl.handle.net/10481/102029 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/102000 Diseño e implementación de un Blended Intensive Programme para la enseñanza-aprendizaje de los paisajes de la ganadería extensiva en el sur de Europa Serrano-Montes, José Luis; Rodríguez Segura, Francisco Javier; Sarmento, João; Cisani, Margherita Since the launch of the European Higher Education Area in 2010, a growing number of international training programmes have been created in Europe. Within the Erasmus+ framework, many opportunities for student mobility and international teaching have emerged. Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) have been introduced relatively recently, as part of the generation of Erasmus+ programmes running from 2021 to 2027. This initiative supports cooperation between universities in different countries for these short, combined learning experiences. BIPs are typically offered by universities and often focus on a specific topic or skill. The program is structured in two phases: a virtual phase and an in-person phase. The online component may include lectures, readings, and discussions, while the face-to-face component may include workshops, group projects, and field trips. These programmes are considered a good option for students who are looking for a more intensive learning experience than a traditional online course. They can also be a good option for students who are unable to travel abroad for an entire semester or year. The aim of this paper is to present and discuss the design and results of the first BIP on Extensive Livestock Systems and Landscape, coordinated by three universities in Southern Europe: University of Granada (UGR), University of Minho (UM) and University of Padua (UNIPD). This interdisciplinary BIP was made up of students from five university degrees: Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and Land Management (UGR), Master’s Degree in Territorial Planning, Governance and Leadership (UGR), Bachelor’s Degree in Geography (UM), Master’s Degree in Landscape Studies (UNIPD) and Master’s Degree in Local Development (UNIPD). The training program was structured around a series of theoretical and practical collaborative learning activities designed to familiarize students with landscape conservation, management, and planning in the context of contemporary extensive livestock systems. In pursuit of this objective, several international workshops facilitated interactions between students and lecturers/researchers representing disciplines pertinent to landscape planning and management from the three participating universities. The program was delineated into two primary phases: (1) An initial online phase, during which the selected students engaged in various training modules. They participated in discussions on topics covered in international tandems and prepare a guided essay for research initiation; (2) The second phase took place face-to-face in Granada (Spain) and included three field trips, exploring rural areas in Andalusia to observe examples of successful business practices. Additionally, there were two presentation sessions for students to discuss their essays, as well as a conference session featuring presentations from international experts on the subject. This BIP is expected to serve as the first iteration of a training program involving other universities from the Arqus Alliance. The coordinators plan to organize a new edition in Portugal in 2025, building on the foundations laid by this international teaching program on landscape issues. By providing an international perspective, this BIP aimed to foster collaboration and facilitate the exchange of experiences among future professionals in geography and landscape science in Southern Europe. https://hdl.handle.net/10481/102000