BRNO BIP- STAFF & students - Stress Reduction and Prevention in Healthcare

How can nursing education help tackle stress in healthcare while also building international competence? In Brno, students and teachers from four European countries came together for an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) to explore that. Through collaborative learning, practical workshops and shared cultural experiences, the week offered very clear example of how international cooperation can deepen professional learning and prepare future nurses for the realities of modern healthcare.

Photo by Mia Poikolainen.

In May 11-15^th 2026 we joined Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) week at College of Healthcare & Nursing in Brno Czech. The week brought together nursing students and educators from four countries. The week consisted of collaborative learning, cultural knowledge and practical workshops. The topic for this BIP was Stress Reduction and Prevention in Healthcare.

The participants in this ongoing BIP are Laurea University of Applied Sciences (Finland), University of Applied Sciences Burgenland (Austria), Ocellia, Ecole des métiers Santé Social en Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (France) and College of Healthcare and Nursing in Brno (Czech Republic). This BIP had totally 40 nursing students and 11 staff members from different partner institutions. This Erasmus+ BIP programme produced 3 ECTS for the students.

The idea for this BIP had started 2 years ago and Laurea already hosted the first BIP with our partners in Tikkurila campus in September 2025. Link: https://journal.laurea.fi/laurea-hosting-bip-multicultural-competence-and-vulnerability-in-health-care/#e1155194. This BIP first had an Online Kick-off meeting with all the students and staff. Students got already their first assignments for the upcoming intensive week and some practical information for the trip.

Picture 1: Cathedral of St Peter and Paul in Brno. Photo By Mia Poikolainen.

The BIP on-site week program started with presentations of the hosting institute and ice breaking activities to get to know each other. The students were divided into mixed study groups from different countries and were given a group assignment. The aim was to do their learning assignment during this week with this group, and the last day students presented these group assignments about stress reduction in health care.

The first day we had a city tour with the tour guides and learned little bit more about Brno. The students also had a photo race for the week.

During the intensive week we had many workshops related to BIP topic. All the participating teachers joined to the teaching during the week. We had workshops in the form of speed dating, canistherapy and workshop of stress prevention among children. We also had the chance to get to know the Toy Animal Hospital Workshop – hospital environment for stress prevention in children. And we were introduced the health care system and visited the hospitals in Brno.

We also had the change to take a trip to Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape (inscribed on the UNESCO Heritage List) and had a guided tour inside of the Lednice castle.

Picture 2: The Lednice castle. Photo by Mia Poikolainen

The feedback of the BIP was excellent from the students. According to the feedback, students got plenty of international experience and would recommend this kind of learning to others. This BIP programme will continue and the next step is going to Grenoble with the students and continue this collaboration with current and new BIP-partners.