The Blended Intensive Programme gathered faculty and students from four European academies to explore fashion show production and backstage operations.
Between June 22nd and 30th, ISMAT – Instituto Superior Manuel Teixeira Gomes hosted a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) under the Erasmus+ program, bringing together students and faculty from four European institutions for an international learning experience.
Titled [RE] Imagine Fashion: Extended, the program featured the participation of ISMAT – Instituto Superior Manuel Teixeira Gomes (Portugal), ESSDM – Escuela Superior Sevilla de Moda (Spain), Vilnius Academy of Arts (Lithuania), and UDIT – Universidad de Diseño, Innovación y Tecnología (Spain), consolidating an international cooperation network that promotes knowledge sharing, creativity, and innovation in fashion education.
Over the course of nine days, participants took part in an intensive program combining workshops, lectures, collaborative activities, and practical challenges, offering an immersive experience in the reality of fashion production.
The initiative was designed to bring students closer to the professional environment, encouraging the application of academic knowledge in real-world situations and fostering active, interdisciplinary learning.
With a focus on Fashion Production, Styling, Fashion Shows, and Backstage Operations, the program allowed participants to explore every stage involved in organizing a fashion show.
From developing creative concepts and collection styling to coordinating backstage, event production, and runway presentation, students worked in international teams, developing technical, organizational, and creative skills essential to the profession.
The multicultural dimension of the BIP was one of its core strengths, providing a collaborative learning environment where students and professors from different countries shared methodologies, experiences, and perspectives on the fashion industry.
This interaction fostered the development of intercultural, communication, and teamwork skills, which are increasingly valued in a global job market.
During the program, a study visit was also conducted to the Costume Museum of São Brás de Alportel (Museu do Traje), allowing participants to closely explore textile heritage and the evolution of traditional Portuguese clothing.
This activity served as an important moment of engagement with the region's cultural identity, demonstrating how tradition can inspire contemporary design and creative processes in fashion.
Hosting this Blended Intensive Programme reinforces ISMAT's commitment to the internationalization of higher education and the promotion of innovative learning methodologies, offering its students enriching academic experiences, direct contact with international partners, and solid preparation for the challenges of the fashion industry.
Through its collaboration with ESSDM, the Vilnius Academy of Arts, and UDIT, ISMAT continues to affirm itself as an institution dedicated to European cooperation, educational excellence, and the training of professionals prepared to meet the demands of an increasingly international, interdisciplinary, and innovative fashion sector.
