Blended Intensive
Programme (BIP) “Management and Technology”

Gruppenfoto

 

We are glad to offer the faculty-led Blended Intensive Program (BIP) “Pedal to Success – A Case Study along the Global Value Chain in Bike Manufacturing” to our partner universities. The BIP includes both a physical activity and a virtual period.

The goal of the program is that students should become more familiar with topics related to Management and Technology.

What should the BIP foster

  • development of transnational and transdisciplinary curricula
  • innovative ways of learning and teaching
  • online collaboration
  • research-based learning

BIPs provide an opportunity to reach out to new groups of students, for example those in study fields where mobility opportunities have been limited or those who lack confidence to go abroad alone.

Flyer_BIP 2026

Blended Intensive Programme (BIP)

Dates of the physical period

12.04.-18.04.2026

Arrival: 12.04.2026
Departure: 19.04.2026 

Dates of the virtual period before the mobility

23.03. -10.04.2026

23.03.2026: Kick-off & Welcome to the BIP (Webex Meeting)

Academic Content

The goal of the programme is to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the economic and technical aspects along the entire value chain in bicycle manufacturing. The programme provides practical insights into how companies can succeed through efficient processes, sustainable strategies, and innovative business models.

  • Analysis and design of value chains
  • Production planning and manufacturing processes
  • Quality and process management
  • Logistics and supply chain management
  • Marketing and sales strategies
  • Sustainability and circular economy
  • Digitalisation and smart manufacturing
  • Teamwork, intercultural communication and soft skills
Place

Esslingen and Göppingen 

Language

The BIP will be held in English.

Fee for students receiving Erasmus scholarship
210 € (including contribution to accommodation)

The fee also includes:
Public transport ticket
Daily lunch
Company visits
Mercedes museum
Social activities
Excursion

Costs

The sending partner universities from EU countries have to use Erasmus KA131 to cover travel costs and living expenses of their participants.
The cultural porgramme, excursions and lunch breaks are free of charge.

How many ECTS will be awarded

3 Credits

What is the Workload for the students

90 hours (50 hours blended + 40 hours physical)

Online Learning agreement

Each student has to complete an Online Learning Agreement (OLA). You can find out what data you have to enter from your coordinator at your home university.

Transcript of Records

The Transcript of Records (TOR) will be will be handed out on the last day of the physical period.

Participating Universities in 2025
  • Uni Malaga (UMA) - Spain
  • Universidad de Zaragoza- Spain
  • RISEBA University for Business, Arts and Technology - Latvia
  • Vilnius Tech -Lithuania
TimeWhatWhoWhere
06:00 pm – 06:30 pmWelcome by the Faculty of Management and Technology Presentation of Esslingen University Introduction to the Schedule of the BIPDean of the Facultywebex
06:30 pm  –  06:45  pmHow touse 'BWSync&Share' – an online storage service where you can find yourmaterial for self-studyInternationalCoordinator of the Facultywebex
06:45 pm  –  07:15 pmIntroductionto the Case Study: 'Pedal to Success' Introduction to your task in self-studyProject Coordinatorswebex
07:15 pm –  07:30 pmQuestions and AnswersProject Coordinatorswebex
07:30 pm –  open endYour chance to get to know each other onlinew/o Project Coordinatorswebex

by 10.04. end of self study phase

Welcome Meeting
Sunday

Monday
MONDAY, 13th of April - Hilltop Campus
09:45 am - 11:00 amRegistration
11:00 am - 12:30 amWelcome by the Faculty Management and Technology
12.30 am - 12.45 pmGroup Foto
01:00 pm - 02:00 pmLunch
02:00 pm - 04:30 pmLecture: "Procurement /SAP" - Prof Mathis
05:00 pm - 06:30 pmDowntown Esslingen guided city tour through the medieval old town of Esslingen
Tuesday
TUESDAY, 14th of April - Hilltop Campus
07:30 am -04:30 pmexcursion: factory tour
Wednesday
WEDNESDAY, 15th of April - in Göppingen
10:00 am - 12:30 amLecture Data Management - Prof. Marx
12:30pm - 01:30pmLunch
01:30 pm - 04:00 pmLecture: "Marketing & Sales" - Prof. Elste
Thursday
THURSDAY, 16th of April - Hilltop Campus
10:00 am - 12:30 amLecture: "Finance & Investment" - Prof. Schreiber
12:30 pm - 01:30 pmLunch
01:30 pm - 04:00 pmLecture: "Systems Thinking„
Workshop Systems Thinking and Gamification (Prof. Zürn)
04:00 pm - 05:30 pm
05:30 pm - 07:30 pmInternational Night (free of charge)
(Please bring pastries from your home country)
Friday
FRIDAY, 17th of April - Hilltop Campus
09:00 am - 01:00 amFinal Group Sessions
01:00 pm - 02:00 pmLunch
02:00 pm - 04:30 pmGroup Presentations
08:00 pm - 00:00 amFarewell in Mexican Restaurant "Joe Penas"
Saturday
SATURDAY, 18 th of April - City Centre Campus
full dayExcursion
Sunday

SUNDAY, 19th of April : Check out by 10 o clock

Accommodation for students

We have rented 5 apartments in Esslingen very close to the university. The apartments are very modern and comortable with fast WIFI, bathrooms, kitchen and terrace. Two or three students have to share a bedroom. Of course, we will take gender separation into account. Please follow the link to see the apartments: https://www.secondhome-stuttgart.com/ Of course, students can also book a hotel on their own responsibility but we recommend to take advantage of the offer, because that way they can get to know and network with each other. However, we strongly discourage students from looking for accommodation themselves as this will be very expensive.

Costs

Students who receive an Erasmus scholarship must pay a contribution to the accommodation costs over the fee of €210.

Arrival 

After your individual transfer from the airport to the apartments by bus or train our student tutors will suppport you with check-in. Check-in is available from 11:00 am. There is only one key per apartment available, but the key can be deposited in a key box outside the apartment. Each resident will receive the code to open and lock the key box.

Departure 

You will have to leave your room by 10:00 am at the latest. Our student tutors will suppport you with check-out.

Accommodation for Teachers

We recomend you to book your room in the Hotel ECOINN in Esslingen very close to the university (right on the Campus City Centre).

In April 2025 the Faculty of Management and Technology at Esslingen University of Applied Sciences was welcoming 22 exchange students and 2 lecturers from Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, and Zaragoza as part of the Blended Intensive Program (BIP) “Pedal to Success.”

At the center of this program, which consisted of a virtual phase and an on-site stay at the university, was a practice-oriented case study on the topic “Pedal to Success – A Case Study along the Global Value Chain in Bike Manufacturing.” The goal was to gain international perspectives on global value chains and to promote interdisciplinary thinking.

The academic program offered exciting lectures in the areas of Procurement / SAP, Marketing & Sales, Data Management, Finance and Investment, and Systems Thinking. The program was complemented by a variety of excursions, including a city tour of Esslingen, a visit to SAP in Walldorf, the Mercedes-Benz Museum, and a joint trip to the Deutsche Museum in Munich.

A special highlight was the International Night at the Hilltop campus and the international students hosted a culinary evening featuring specialties from their home countries.

With this international week, the Faculty of Management and Technology was sending a strong message for lived internationality, cultural exchange, and practice-oriented teaching.