The European Project Semester trains students to work together, providing tools and competences to realise ideas in a real-world environment in close cooperation with local industry and non-profit organisations.
What
European Project Semester (EPS) is an international programme offered by 18 European Higher Education Institutions in 13 countries throughout Europe to students who have completed at least two years of study.
In the European Project Semester, students work together in an international team on a real-life project that matches their area of study and field of interest. . All projects contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 21st century skills as well as sustainability competencies are therefore central to the learning outcomes. We offer different EPS projects in thesecond semester (spring semester). EPS is a cooperation between all departments & schools of arts at AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp.
EPS is a mixture of “Supportive (= project related) Courses” and project organized/problem based learning.
The language of communication is English. When thestudent successfully completes the EPS project, he/she is awarded 30 ECTS credits.
EPS is a cooperation between all departments & Schools of Arts at AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp:
Business and Law
Education and Training
Health and Life Science
Industry and Environment
Media, Design and IT
People and Society
Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
Royal Conservatoire Antwerp
For who?
Students who are selected by their home institution to participate in the “regular Erasmus-program” are free to apply for an EPS project, as long as their study backgrounds comply with the required profiles for the EPS projects they apply for.
As EPS projects focus on international and interdisciplinary teamwork, it is important that students have a solid academic background. Students should therefore have completed at least 4 semesters in higher education.
To be able to communicate effectively as a team member, students should have proficient understanding of the English language (B2 or more is highly recommended). Students will be asked to deliver papers and to do presentations in English.
Projects are open for students with a study background in:
Product development
ICT-electronics and applied informatics
Teacher training (pre-primary, primary and/or secondary education)
Engineering
Social work
Social Educational Care Work
Occupational Therapy
Health sciences
Marketing
Communication management
Journalism
Business management
Graphical and digital media / Multimedia design
Game development
Photography
Etc.
Belgian AP-students
Contact the master/bachelor thesis coordinator of your own department to check how you can add EPS to your current program.
Project work by the participating students, with the aim of developing student initiative, individual creativity and entrepreneurial skills. Four to eight students work together in an international team on a specific (multidisciplinary) project while developing their cooperation and communication skills. (20 ECTS)
A number of short intensive courses, taught by different (international) lecturers, to support the project work (10 ECTS)
The project prepares students to be part of a multi-context environment. The problems need to be solved irrespective of nationality and culture. This enhances on the one hand the amount of work to be delivered and on the other hand the quality of the project process and project results.
VLIR-UOS: an organization that supports partnerships between on the one hand Flemish universities or universities of applied sciences and arts and on the other hand institutions for higher education in the Global South in the common search for answers to global and local challenges.
CONTEXT?
Are you ready to tackle one of the greatest challenges of our time? We are on the lookout for bright minds who are eager to explore the complex relationship between technology, digitalization, and climate change.
GOAL?
In our groundbreaking project, we are not just studying the impact of technology on the climate—we are seeking ways to innovate responsibly. Our aim is to develop informational products that provide guidance on how to innovate and digitalize and use technology in a responsible way to foster a sustainable future.
This project is more than an academic pursuit; it's a platform for you to become a pioneer in understanding how to create technologies that respects and protects our environmental boundaries.
If you are ready to contribute to a meaningful transformation where technology and ecology align, join us.
Let's design the future together.
FOR WHOM?
Students with a heart for, and a study background in
ICT-Electronics and/or Applied informatics
Design (Graphical and Digital Media, Interaction design, Product design, Art): designing, prototyping, conceptual thinking, storytelling, etc.
Handicap International, an international non-governmental organisation known for its fight against anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions. Handicap International prevents disabilities (through training, awareness-raising campaigns, etc.), supports people with disabilities and enables them to participate fully in society.
Context?
In order to make young people between 14 and 18 years of age aware of disabilities in their many facets and the need for social inclusion, Handicap International intends to develop an innovative training module tailored to these target groups. This module will also enable young people to learn more about the specific approach of Handicap International, an organisation that was co-founder of the International Campaign against Landmines and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.
Goal?
Conceptualise and create – building on the result of a previous EPS team – a prototype of a digital ‘escape game’ that promotes, in an innovative and playful way, youngster’s learning on themes that are central to Handicap International's mission and vision (prevention of disabilities, support for people with disabilities, full participation in social life by people with disabilities, etc.).
As an EPS team you develop learning content that is adapted to the target groups. You develop a storyline, game scenarios and characters that appeal to the imagination of young people. The graphic design and technological conceptualisation lead to a prototype that a next generation of EPS students and Handicap International can further develop.
For whom?
Students with a heart for, and a study background in
ICT-Electronics and/or Applied informatics
Design (Graphical and Digital Media, Interaction design, Product design, Art): designing, prototyping, conceptual thinking, storytelling, etc.
"A movie that gives one sight and sound... I make it so that you are in the story, you speak to the shadows, and the shadows reply, and instead of being on a screen, the story is all about you, and you are in it. Would that be to make real a dream?" From: Pygmalion's Spectacles, Stanley G. Weinbaum, 1935
In this EPS-project, you will create immersive experiences (VR, AR, MR, …) to tackle contemporary issues such as climate heating and biodiversity loss. With the support of the Immersive Lab, you will research innovative possibilities to develop these experiences: immersive storytelling, multisensoriality, embodiment and generative AI.
We need an interdisciplinary team to address this goal: IT developers, AI engineers, storytellers, artists, (prompt) engineers, designers, 3D-modelers, user researchers, climate scientists, biologists, communication specialists, and more.
Join us into a sustainable future, where virtual bodies and artificial minds meet.
For whom?
Students with a heart for and a study background in
Ann Debeuf and the ‘Responsible Design’ AP research team of the department Media, Design & IT.
Context?
Sustainable graphic design is the way forward. Use your creativity for good!
Did it cross your mind that design might have something to do with the environment? Have you ever heard of Sustainable Graphic Design? As environmental problems become more serious, sustainable graphic design becomes more popular, at last.
And if you think digital is always less polluting than print, think again. Since digital is often overlooked in sustainability, this will be our focus.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to sacrifice sustainability for your creativity or vice versa. Sustainability is just one co-pilote in your design process, amongst other.
Goal?
Think big on how to create an eco-friendly website (or an app, animation, …) and how this works in practice. In team, you will gather clear information on what affects the final CO2-emissions of a website or any online interaction, for that matter.
Think further than technical facts as hosting, the role of equipment, the work environment, … Consider for example human behaviour or human incentives for making other choices.
Think very broad before choosing a focus.
The creative and most challenging part is how to spread the message. What is the best way to communicate your findings to other web developers, designers and future designers, companies, … Will you try your tips and tricks on your own website? Or is there a better way to promote your green findings?
The results of your project can be spread in the creative industry and can be used in design schools all over Europe.
Your team will continue to work on the excellent result of a previous EPS team.
For whom?
Students with a heart for and a study background in:
‘Logo Antwerpen’ is a local multi-stakeholder consultation platform where health is central.
On behalf of the Flemish government, Logo Antwerpen contributes to the realization of the Flemish health objectives at local level:
More people in motion and with a healthy weight
Fewer smokers, drug and alcohol users
More resilient people
Fewer accidents in the private sphere
More people participating in cancer population screenings
A high-quality vaccination policy in Flanders
Context?
Despite the fact that the right to health is enshrined in the Belgian constitution and in numerous international human rights treaties, this right appears to be far from guaranteed, especially for people with a lower social status (educational level, opportunities on the labour market, income level, etc.).
One of the causes that contribute to a relatively more unhealthy lifestyle of socially disadvantaged groups is the fact that awareness campaigns are not yet sufficiently geared to these hard-to-reach target groups.
Goal?
How can immersive technologies contribute in a creative way to raising awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, more specifically to raising awareness aimed at socio-economically disadvantaged groups in our society? That is the challenge for this team of EPS students who also use the technological knowledge built up in AP's Immersive Lab for this challenging objective.
Your team will continue to work on the excellent result of a previous EPS team.
For whom?
Students with a heart for and a study background in
Health Sciences
ICT-Electronics and/or Applied informatics
Design (Graphical and Digital Media, Interaction design, Product design, Art): designing, prototyping, conceptual thinking, storytelling, etc.
The client of this project is Plan International Belgium, founded in 1937, Plan International is a development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. The non-governmental organisation strives for a just world, working together with children, young people, supporters and partners.
In 2019, Plan International was active in 77 countries. 21,6 million girls and 18,9 million boys were reached by the NGO’s work.
CONTEXT?
According to the United Nations, gender equality is ‘the unfinished business of our time’.
UN Women: “Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. Moreover, it has been shown that empowering women spurs productivity and economic growth”.
“Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality of rights and opportunities between men and women”, warns UN Women. “Therefore, it is of paramount importance to end the multiple forms of gender violence and secure equal access to quality education and health, economic resources and participation in political life for both women and girls and men and boys. It is also essential to achieve equal opportunities in access to employment and to positions of leadership and decision-making at all levels”.
These are the reasons why the NGO Plan International makes gender equality and gender justice an absolute priority in its global operations.
GOAL?
With this EPS team you will gain knowledge about gender equality and gender justice. You will also learn to develop strategies to use the acquired knowledge to take social action.
With your team you will develop an awareness tool that increases awareness of the global importance of gender equality and gender justice. The technological competencies present in the team of students will form the starting point for the development of this tool that should have the ambition to appeal to the imagination of many.
FOR WHOM?
Students with a heart for, and a study background in
Eager to take a quick peek at the process and results of the 2024 projects? Below you can find some of the project recap movies. Those will certainly provide you a clear and brief insight into each project!
Eager to take a quick peek at the process and results of the 2023 projects? Below you can find some of the project recap movies. Those will certainly provide you a clear and brief insight into each project!
Eager to take a quick peek at the process and results of the 2022 projects? Below you can find some of the project recap movies. Those will certainly provide you a clear and brief insight into each project!
Eager to take a quick peek at the process and results of the 2021 projects? Below you can find some of the project recap movies. Those will certainly provide you a clear and brief insight into each project!
Eager to take a quick peek at the process and results of the 2019 projects? Below you can find the research posters of every project group. Those will certainly provide you a clear and brief insight into each project!
Eager to take a quick peek at the process and results of the 2018 projects? Below you can find the research posters of every project group. Those will certainly provide you a clear and brief insight into each project!
Monday 27th January 2025 - Thursday 30th January 2025
Welcome day
Friday, 31st January 2025
Start of programme
Monday, 3rd February 2025
Official end date
Friday 20th June 2025
Holidays
Spring Break: Monday 3rd March – Sunday 9th March 2025 (1 week)
Easter Holiday: Monday 7th April – Monday 21st April 2025 (2 weeks)
Ascension: 29th – 30th May 2025
Other days off: 1st-2nd May 2025 / 9th June 2025
Location
AP Campus Spoor Noord - Noorderplaats
Noorderplaats 2
2000 Antwerp
The EPS projects will be organized on different locations in or near the city center of Antwerp.
Our programmes can only accept a limited number of students. After the application deadline, a selection will take place based on motivation/cv, study background, and, if necessary, date of application.
Students will be advised before 15th November of their approval/refusal.
Application
AP partner institutions should nominate the student via our registration system Mobility Online. The link to the nomination form will be sent to all partner institutions; If you did not receive it, please contact us at incomingstudents@ap.be . Once nominated, students will receive an automated mail to complete the application.
Our programmes can only accept a limited number of students. After the application deadline, a selection will take place based on motivation/cv, study background, and, if necessary, date of application.
We would like to take into account your preference concerning the projects. Therefore, we ask you to fill out a short online survey (link will follow later).
Projects will be assigned at a later stage, at the latest upon arrival. It is possible that not all projects will be organized as we often need very specific student profiles in order to be able to run certain projects. If that would be the case with the project(s) you prefer, we will propose an alternative project that fits your profile.
Application deadline: 1 November
Selection and final acceptance: 15 November
Students that apply before 10 August can receive a decision about their acceptance on 7 September at the latest in case they ask for it.
Registration
Once accepted, please fill in the online registration:
Go to the registration form (link will follow later)
We will communicate with you by means of your personal email address and your mobile phone number, so make sure you provide us with the correct contact details..
After your registration, AP International Office will provide additional information pertaining to:
Welcome Week and Welcome Day
Procedure for registration (residence permit)
Invitation letter, for visa purposes
Housing, activities, integration & facilities
Credits
AP awards 30 credits for one semester. Credits are awarded only when the course has been completed and all required examinations have been successfully taken.
