RheinMain University of Applied Sciences hosted its first Erasmus-funded hybrid Blended Intensive Program (BIP) on “Exploring the future of new media markets” in the degree program International Media Management.

The Erasmus-funded program is about developing short, intensive and joint mobility curricula and activities between at least three universities from three different Erasmus countries. The main focus was on collaborative learning, teamwork and general international exchange.

A total of 30 students from partner universities in Poland (University of Lodz) and Belgium (Artevelde University of Applied Sciences) spent eventful days together with students from the International Media Management program. The program started with a two-day online phase in which a primeSIM business game was presented and the students were divided into cross-national groups according to individual strengths.

On site in Wiesbaden, the participating teaching staff gave presentations on topic. Professor Claus-Peter H. Ernst (RheinMain University of Applied Sciences) kicked off the event with a talk on the future of comics entitled “Why comics were made for the digital age: a marvel case study”. Dominik Skowronski from the University of Lodz challenged students to think about “Artificial intelligence and its influence on social media content.” Students also approached the concept of “design thinking”.

Jan Algoed from Artevelde University of Applied Sciences presented on “Aristotle, Shakespeare and AI” — his bottom line was: Reality and artificially created realities can no longer be clearly distinguished and AI tools enable non-experts to create impressive content.

Under the guidance of Prime Academy founder, Heiko Hammer, student teams worked through several business game phases and competed to set up a profitable sunglasses business.

The program also included a joint visit to the ZDF television studios and an excursion to Rüdesheim with a boat trip on the Rhine.

On Friday, the students gave their final presentations. In teams, they developed concepts and ideas for media start-ups, always taking into account the emerging possibilities of artificial intelligence. The groups presented start-ups in the fields of travel (real and virtual), clothing exchange, Erasmus and food recycling. All in all, the first blended intensive program was a success and the participants were pleased.