A 4EU+ BIP Story: Climate change, local development and university cooperation in a small village of the Italian Alps

The small community of Edolo, a village of just under 5,000 inhabitants in the province of Brescia in the Italian Alps and headquarters of the “Mountain University” of the University of Milan, hosted 40 students and faculty members participating in the 4EU+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Climate Change Adaptation, Nature-Based Solutions and Local Development Trends”.

The University of Milan, Heidelberg University and Charles University came together at the “Mountain University”- Edolo campus (11-15 May 2026), to address the complex issues of climate change and nature-based solutions in mountain areas.

The educational activity, organised in a blended format combining virtual lessons and intensive in-person work, provided an opportunity to explore some of the urgent challenges affecting the Italian mountain environment: the impacts of climate change on the Presena Glacier, the situation of forests in Valdisotto infested by the European spruce bark beetle, and the search for new socio-economic prospects for a ski destination (Prato Valentino).

The excursions and discussions with lecturers and technical experts from the local areas focused not only on challenges, but also on nature-based solutions: the spatial analysis required to implement them, the search for funding, and the need to involve local communities in the areas where they are implemented.

The students particularly appreciated the scientific and cultural exchange among the three universities, as well as the educational approach that combined virtual classroom-based teaching and group training with field trips to areas of natural significance. A final project allowed students to simulate the implementation of nature-based solutions in a mountain setting, concluding the course with a real-world case study.

Photo credit: "Mountain University" Campus of the University of Milan

“ This week has been a really interesting experience for me. The best part, I think, would be meeting other people from different universities and countries, with completely different backgrounds. I think it brought me the most because it widened my horizons. About the programme, I think it was really nice, because I had the opportunity to see the mountains from the environmental point of view, but also to see how it’s affected by tourism and other things, that need to work together to make better mountain protection.

— Stanislav Jira, Student at Charles University

“ I’m pretty happy to be part of this BIP programme, because I think it’s really good to have this kind of experience in your study, because you get to meet other people from other universities and especially other countries, which shows you how things are done in other countries.

— Tobias Schmitt, Student at Heidelberg University

“ What UNIMONT, the Alpine hub of the University of Milan, has to offer is attracting growing interest among young people from all over the world. This is clearly demonstrated by the international students from Prague and Heidelberg who took part in the BIP4EU+ programme and greatly appreciated the experience they had on the territory, as well as the direct approach to mountain-related issues, climate change, and ongoing socio-economic transformations. A wonderful achievement, confirming the increasing interest of young people in mountain areas and in the educational opportunities offered by UNIMONT.

— Professor Anna Giorgi, UNIMONT – University of Milan

BIPs (Blended Intensive Programmes), funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme, are among the many international educational opportunities available to students from universities belonging to the 4EU+ Alliance, combining virtual and short-term physical mobility. The new BIPs starting in the 2026–2027 academic year will be announced at the beginning of 2027.