Students from our master degree programme Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement recently took part in the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Ecological Economics: A Just and Sustainable Transition at the Università degli Studi di Firenze. The programme was organised within the EUniWell – European University for Well-Being alliance and funded by Erasmus+.
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Exploring key sustainability challenges

Over the course of 5 days, participants engaged intensively with current sustainability challenges and questions related to global economic transformation.
Key debates on growth and climate policy
A special focus of the BIP was COP30 Brazil, the 30th UN Climate Change Conference, as well as debates on growth, climate policy and sustainable urban development. Together with students from across Europe, the IMC Krems participants discussed forward-looking approaches and reflected on the role of ecological economics in shaping more sustainable systems.
IMC Krems student Sophie Binder summarised her experience as follows: “We explored critical questions with inspiring speakers: What lies beyond COP30? What is the true cost of growth? How can we build sustainable cities and effectively communicate these urgent challenges?”
The on-site phase in Florence was characterised by academic exchange, international dialogue and collaborative learning.
Continuation in May: Sustainability Management
In May, the international cooperation will continue with the Blended Intensive Programme Sustainability Management at Hochschule Emden/Leer. The programme is specifically designed for students of the master degree programme Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement at IMC Krems and is jointly organised with Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wrocławiu and IMC Krems University of Applied Sciences.
Planned highlights include barefoot mudflat trekking in the Wadden Sea on Borkum and a Design Thinking workshop.
Through participation in these programmes, IMC Krems students broaden their academic perspectives and strengthen their international networks.
Sustainability at IMC Krems
The Blended Intensive Programmes offered complement the content of the master degree programme Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement, which focuses on sustainability, environmental management and responsible economic development.
Blended Intensive Programmes at IMC Krems
Blended Intensive Programmes are short international learning formats that combine virtual components with a one-week on-site phase. Funded by Erasmus+, they enable students to gain international experience within a compact timeframe.
At IMC Krems, these formats are particularly valuable for students who combine their studies with professional commitments and may therefore not participate in a full exchange semester or international internship.


