New video: BLIST Project: Building Bridges Through Research and Collaboration

The BLIST Project is all about connecting people and ideas across borders to drive innovation, and the research lab at CeREF โ€“ Centre de recherche et de formation continue de la HELHa (Belgium) is a perfect example of how collaboration can create something truly special.

This vision is further highlighted by insights from Vesna Jerkovic, Biotechnology Research Coordinator at CeREF. In a new video, she shares her experience mentoring international students during their research internships, offering valuable perspectives on both the challenges and rewards of supervising foreign students in a research setting.

Through research internships, semester placements, and development programs, the lab provides opportunities for participants from diverse backgrounds to work on innovative projects. Welcoming students from African universities and soon hosting an American student, these collaborations foster creativity and mutual learning.

The experience, however, is not without its challenges. Language barriers, cultural differences, and logistical hurdles like visas and housing are common. Additionally, cultural adjustments, such as working in labs with strong female leadership, can require adaptation. Despite these obstacles, these programs offer immense value, advancing research projects while fostering intercultural understanding and skill-building.

These initiatives reflect the core mission of BLIST: to provide inclusive opportunities for research and innovation while connecting participants across borders. By offering access to advanced training, specialized equipment, and unique workshops, these collaborations contribute to developing a stronger and more inclusive research community.


Discover how BLIST contributes to shaping the future of research at our website.

From Classroom to Lab: A Testimonial by Jordan Pouleau – New video avaliable

BLIST is glad to present a new video featuring Jordan Pouleau, a Bachelorโ€™s student in Tourism Management at Haute Ecole Provinciale de Hainaut (HEPH) – Condorcet in Belgium. In this video, Jordan shares his experience participating in a research project that allowed him to apply academic learning to real-world challenges in the tourism industry.

Through the BLIST Project, Jordan gained invaluable hands-on experience that deepened his understanding of tourism while showing how academic research can make a practical impact. This project provided Jordan with the opportunity to integrate theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, which is a core component of the BLIST mission.

The BLIST Project is dedicated to creating opportunities for students to engage in meaningful, cross-border research collaborations that not only advance academic knowledge but also address real-world issues. By providing access to research experiences, BLIST empowers students to develop essential skills, expand their professional networks, and contribute to global innovation.

Learn more about project at our website.

Research insights from UAS students: new video avaliable

In the latest episode of our student testimonial series “๐‘๐ž๐ฌ๐ž๐š๐ซ๐œ๐ก ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐Ÿ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐”๐€๐’ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ” Eric Ugo Paque, a Master’s student in Computer Systems Engineering at the HEPL – Haute Ecole de la Province de Liรจge (HEPL), shares his pivotal contribution to a research project in collaboration with the Tournai Hospital in Belgium. The project focused on modeling patient arrival flows and wait times at the hospital to improve patient care and streamline operational processes

๐Ÿ“ Watch the video on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KmtogJxp9o

New video: international students share their experiences on research projects

Weโ€™ve just launched our first video testimonies showcasing the incredible work of Samantha and Fernando, international students at BUILDERS, who actively participated in research projects! ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ”ฌ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ
These inspiring stories highlight their dedication, curiosity, and passion for driving innovation in their respective fields. ๐ŸŒŸ Itโ€™s amazing to see how research opportunities empower students and shape their academic journeys.
Stay tuned as we continue sharing more about their unique experiences and discoveries. Watch their stories unfold:

BLIST Benchmark report is out!

BLIST just published a Benchmark Report โ€œ2024: โ€œBest Practices for Including Students in Research Activitiesโ€. You can access it here.

This report is one of the key outcomes of the Boosting IncLusion of Students In Research AcTivities (BLIST) project. The material provides an in-depth analysis of current practices at European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) focusing on the solutions increasing student involvement in research, and offers key recommendations for promoting more inclusive participation.

The report is based on a survey that was distributed in 61 universities and research institutions across Europe, including contributions from Belgium, France, and Portugal.

It focuses on how HEIs integrate students into research, by identifying both the benefits and the challenges of existing policies. The survey respondents highlighted the growing trend of integrating students into applied research activities.
The report also outlines several recommendations to provide student inclusion, among which are early involvement in research, providing mentorship, offering training and support materials.

The reportโ€™s results will be used to develop a guidebook and training framework to assist educational institutions in better integrating students into research activities.