30.06.2026

Experiencing Civic Engagement in Europe: Tübingen's Participation in the CIVIS Blended Intensive Program (BIP) in Romania

International cooperation, social engagement, and practical learning: As part of a CIVIS Blended Intensive Program, students and faculty from all over Europe traveled to the Romanian region of Maramureș to work together with local partners on solutions to societal challenges. Two representatives from the University of Tübingen, from our TRACS department, were also present.

How can civic engagement be learned, researched, and practically tested across national borders? Students and faculty from several European universities addressed this question as part of the Blended Intensive Program (BIP) "Civic Engagement in Europe: A Transdisciplinary Approach" of CIVIS – Europe's Civic University Alliance.

Also present were Dr. Iris-Niki Nikolopoulos and Franziska Müller from the "Civic Engagement & Service Learning" department at the University of Tübingen. Together with colleagues from partner universities, they accompanied students from seven CIVIS universities in an intensive learning and project experience in the Romanian region of Maramureș.

Blended Intensive Programs combine virtual collaboration with a short physical mobility phase on-site. They enable students to gain international learning experiences and transnational collaboration without the need for a whole semester abroad. This makes international experiences more accessible for those who cannot undertake longer stays abroad.

The focus of the program was on social engagement, service learning, and regional development issues. Thru excursions, discussions with local actors, and collaborative project work, the participants gained insights into the challenges and potentials of the region. Topics such as the emigration of young people, economic prospects, sustainable tourism, and the strengthening of local communities were examined from different professional perspectives.

The students had already gained a perspective on a part of the region thru a partner in the online portion. On-site, they developed concrete project ideas in international teams that address the needs of the local communities. The results were presented to representatives of the region at the conclusion, who received many of the suggestions as valuable impulses for their future work.

"It was a very varied program." The students engaged intensively with the region and its challenges, asked interested and critical questions on-site, and developed and implemented impressive projects in a very short time, such as a website in English for tourist activities in the region," reports Franziska Müller.

Particularly impressive for many participants were the encounters with dedicated people on site. A highlight was the meeting with members of the local motorcycle club "Rock N' Road Friends Club." They impressively demonstrated how civic engagement can strengthen communities – from social projects for children to organizing a festival that is now well-known far beyond the region. The example made it clear how even small initiatives can have a significant impact.

In addition to the project work, the program offered a variety of opportunities for intercultural exchange. The students got to know the cultural diversity of Maramureș, visited UNESCO World Heritage sites, and engaged in conversations with representatives of local communities. In the process, not only new perspectives on social engagement emerged, but also numerous personal and professional connections across national borders.

A student from the University of Bucharest aptly summarized her experiences at the end of the program: "We arrived as participants, but we leave as a community."

For the participating educators, the program was also a special experience. The personal exchange with colleagues from various European universities strengthened existing collaborations and opened up new opportunities for cooperation.

For the University of Tübingen, the program exemplifies how international cooperation, social engagement, and practical learning can be interconnected within the CIVIS Alliance – and how students can not only get to know Europe but actively shape it.

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