UNIC collaboration brought an international student group to Oulu
A BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) combines physical mobility with virtual collaborative learning. The programme was made possible through the UNIC network, which promotes mobility and international experiences for both students and staff.
The theme of the UNICart Oulu BIP was “Transdisciplinary Artistic Methods for Post-Industrial Urban Change”, and it was delivered as part of UNIC’s Arts, Culture and Creativity thematic line. The programme brought together doctoral researchers and advanced Master’s students from six UNIC universities: the University of Liège, Ruhr University Bochum, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University College Cork, the University of Lodz, and the University of Deusto.
The Meri-Toppila district and the international Revitalize Meri-Toppila 2026 workshop provided participants with an authentic learning environment. This enabled them to engage directly with real places and communities through practical, hands-on work.
The programme was led by Dr Markus Rytinki, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Kerttu Saalasti Institute. In December 2025, Rytinki participated in a BIP organised in Cork, Ireland, under the same thematic line, where he facilitated a workshop on the use of artist residencies in urban development and business activities.
“We have already received very positive feedback on the programme,” says Rytinki. “It was also valuable for participants to experience a real urban environment rather than discussing urban development solely in a lecture theatre.”
The Oulu Business School has actively collaborated within the UNIC network by organising various student visits. Most recently, in April, the Business School had the honour of hosting a group of 40 students from Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands.
Read more about the implementation of the programme: Artistic methods for researching urban environments – members of the international UNIC alliance gathered in Meri-Toppila