The BLISS initiative aimed to enhance the efficiency and resilience of higher education institutions (HEIs) while making learning more accessible and flexible for students. The project focused on two main objectives: 1. Design and implementation of tailored educational units for engineering curricula, drawing on the latest blended learning (BL) methodologies and experiences from the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on distance learning. Both areas have been thoroughly reviewed by the consortium. 2. Development of a methodological framework to support the strategic integration of BL into HE curricula, thereby increasing educational system efficiency and accessibility for students. These objectives intended to produce comprehensive learning materials for immediate use within the consortium and a blueprint for broader BL adoption. This approach was designed to benefit learners by offering a wider range of courses, enabling learning at their own pace, and enhancing the teaching capabilities of faculty. Ultimately, the initiative sought to foster a collaborative educational environment, strengthen HEIs, and facilitate joint research and talent distribution across the Union.
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic necessitated swift adaptations in HE globally, revealing acute resource and accessibility gaps for students. Confronted with these challenges, HEIs struggled with the sudden shift to online education due to outdated technological infrastructures and a lack of expertise in digital teaching methods. This situation risked exacerbating socio-economic disparities, potentially degrading the educational experience. In response, we launched the BLISS initiative to harness the potential of blended learning (BL)—a pedagogical approach that integrates online resources with traditional classroom interactions. This method had shown promise long before the pandemic and became critical under the constraints of reduced physical interactions and financial pressures on HEIs. BLISS aimed to improve the resilience and efficiency of educational systems, increase learning flexibility, and expand access to quality education. By developing a structured framework and ready-to-use educational units based on BL, we addressed the pressing needs highlighted by the pandemic. This initiative leveraged the global shift towards blended learning, utilizing our collective experience from the initial response to Covid-19.