Imagine a group of innovative students from Fontys Pulsed Empower and Associate Degree of Engineering embarking on a journey to learn about multidisciplinary and multicultural collaboration. Their mission? To impact MS rehabilitation and empower healthcare professionals through technology integration. Read how they dive headfirst into the international Blended Intensive Program (BIP) 2023, where cultural diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration take center stage. Brace yourself for a tale of creativity, determination, and the results that emerged from their immersive experience in the vibrant city of Porto.

A few months ago, an international Blended Intensive Program (BIP) 2023 welcomed the participation of one Pulsed Empower student and four 1st year Associate Degree of Engineering students. The BIP edition, themed "Translating Knowledge into Practice – Embracing the Complexity of MS Rehabilitation," aimed to support Multiple Sclerosis healthcare professionals by developing technology-based solutions to enhance patient rehabilitation.

The program brought together participants from various universities, including Fontys Pulsed, AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp (Belgium), Hellenic Mediterranean University (Crete/Greece), and Istituto Superior Politécnico Gaya (Porto/Portugal), forming five diverse teams that combined different cultural and disciplinary backgrounds. Each team had a unique project developing various innovative solutions. These projects included a VR Technology-based activation tool, a Smart Medicine Box, a Stimulation App capable of real-time physiological data input, a Smart Bracelet that alerted families to unusual movements or body positions, and a technology-based Urinary Incontinence application.

From January to May, the teams embarked on an exciting journey filled with challenges and discoveries as they aimed to research and develop multiple options to address their chosen topics. Through careful decision-making, they constructed working prototypes of their selected solutions, actively seeking stakeholder feedback, particularly the MS Centres in Belgium and Portugal.

The students collaborated remotely throughout this period, leveraging online meetings and digital exchanges to share design proposals and engage in meaningful discussions. Guided by teacher coaches from their respective universities, they received valuable support and guidance in weekly online update meetings, ensuring a smooth and productive process.

The most exciting part of their journey awaited them towards the end of May in Porto, where ISP Gaya University hosted the final part of the BiP edition where the teams had an intense four days to assemble, test, and refine their prototypes. With a sense of urgency, they documented their concepts professionally and in a transferable manner. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as the students prepared to present their projects to fellow teams, teachers, coaches, and a special guest—an MS patient who was also an engineer. These presentations were an opportunity to showcase their accomplishments, address critical questions, and propose further development toward realising real-life products.

The students' journey was not just about acquiring knowledge of new technologies; it went far beyond that. Through their collaborative efforts and diverse disciplinary backgrounds, they gained valuable insights into the "human factor" and developed many 21st-century skills. They honed their cross-border and remote collaboration abilities, mastered technical English language skills in both speaking and writing, and practiced the basics of agile project management. Furthermore, they navigated through cultural differences, such as punctuality and milestone adherence, learning to appreciate and adapt to each other's particularities.

Ralph Peters and Jop van Laanen, the Fontys Pulsed coaches, beamed with pride and happiness as they witnessed their students' performance. The coaches from sister universities also acknowledged the remarkable flexibility displayed by the Pulsed students in establishing connections with their international team members and working across disciplines. These students contributed significantly to discussions, even when the topics extended beyond their expertise, showcasing their problem-solving abilities. Well done, Pulsed students!

While this was a study trip to Porto, there was also time for informal cooperation and enjoyment. The Pulsers and students had the chance to enjoy the city and its culture. "It was great to see the young people engaging in various activities that sometimes extended into the early morning and still see them remaining committed to promptly attending all sessions. Such dedication exemplified their ability to embrace the full student experience and a world that becomes increasingly interconnected professionally and personally." Pulser Ralph describes.

In conclusion, this enriching experience provided the students with technical knowledge and invaluable life skills, fostering their growth as adaptable, collaborative, and culturally aware individuals. Fontys Pulsed wants to thank all the Pulsed students involved for their capacity to stand out from the crowd and embrace the interconnected nature of the world we live in today.

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