The Circularity of Regional Fashion – Erasmus+ BIP program at METU

Under the ‘Circularity of Regional Fashion’ title, Budapest Metropolitan University organized an Erasmus+ BIP program with the participation of the Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania and AMD Berlin universities. 

This pioneering event was the first Erasmus BIP (Blended Intensive Program) organized by the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries at METU, aiming to set a new tradition and contribute to further professional collaborations.



The intensive short course has been prepared for almost a year by lecturers of the Institute of Art and Design Theory and colleagues of the International Coordination Office of METU. METU’s Faculty of Art and Creative Industries initiated and hosted the program, inviting Sapientia and AMD, one of Germany’s leading fashion and design universities.

This BIP aimed to begin a long-term professional collaboration, providing opportunities for similar events, student and teacher exchanges, and joint research projects in Budapest, Berlin or Targu Mures/Miercurea Ciuc. The Erasmus+ BIP is a form of mobility that allows higher education students to gain educational, linguistic, and cultural experiences through a combination of virtual and short-term physical mobility. The program's goal is to enable students to learn about different perspectives, knowledge, educational and research methods, and professional practices within their field in a European and international context. At least three higher education institutions from three different countries must participate in the program.

Ensuring methodological diversity was one of the goals when developing the training, in line with the ongoing transformation of the European textile strategy. The curriculum focused on preparing students to become leaders, researchers, or designers in the growing field of sustainable fashion, promoting environmental awareness and social responsibility.

The professional leader of the program was Anna Kudron, assistant professor of the Institute of Art and Design Theory, who started developing the BIP curriculum with AMD teachers, Fredericke Winkler and Dorothea Barth last year. Furthermore, Otília Fülöp (Sapientia) and Zsuzsanna Pörczi, Deputy Dean for International Affairs at METU ART Faculty also played a crucial role in initiating the event, due to their long-term and active cooperation in the Hungarian University Film Award program of previous years. Two more university lecturers from Sapientia, Laura Nistor and Rozália Bakó also supported both the preparation and the implementation of the BIP with their professionalism by providing interesting presentations about semiotics in fashion, the second-hand clothing industry, and the ecosystem of SMEs. AMD lecturers also conducted complex workshops focusing on eco-design, sustainable fashion, and design theory. On behalf of METU, Tibor Kiss as a master lecturer was also offered thought-provoking presentations on these issues. Participants also had the opportunity to watch the open screening of Bálint Révész’s documentary, ‘Uprooted – The Olimpyc Tribe’ followed by a round table discussion among the producer and the guests. The awarded documentary of the METU lecturer presents the desperate struggle against deforestation in tropical rainforests.

The online phase of the Erasmus BIP took place 25-28 March and an individual research phase followed online sessions, to prepare for the physical phase of the BIP. The physical phase was held in Budapest from 6-10 May 2024, at Infopark. During the five-day intensive event, participants met local, Hungarian fashion industry representatives and attended art, fashion, and design programs in Budapest to enrich with a memorable community experience.

On May 7, the second day of the training week, the event was honored by the visit of Prof. Dr. György Kocziszky, Rector or METU who greeted the participants in their mother language, in German and Hungarian. He expressed his gratitude that METU ART Faculty incorporated the BIP as a new, innovative educational format into its teaching portfolio and prominent Transylvanian and German partner universities have been invited. He emphasized that "the innovative values and solutions represented by METU, as well as creativity, are mirrored in this program, which can form the basis for further valuable academic collaborations. Budapest Metropolitan University, as the first and only Hungarian partner of Arizona State University, one of the world's most innovative higher education institutions, considers it an important mission to encourage creative learning forms like this BIP and to support projects that provide more opportunities for direct international higher education collaboration. We hope that the best practices learned from the collaboration between METU and ASU can be also shared with our Transylvanian and German partners in the future."

Participating organizations will work on a joint publication after the event, and students who have completed the BIP as an elective course, earn 3 microcredits, certified by METU, which shall be included in their diploma supplement.