IN SHORT
- Six online lectures (April to May 2026) on poetry as a sociocultural activity in Japan, China, and the Arab world
- In-person Workshop in Bologna (June 15 to 19, 2026) funded by Erasmus+
- 6 ECTS creditable for LMU Japan-Center’s BA WP1, WP2, WP3, WP4, WP6, WP7 (certificate from Bologna University)
APPLICATION DEADLINE January 25, 2026
CV, letter of motivation (max. one page) addressed at: Dr. Anna Wiemann, a.wiemann@lmu.de
What is a BIP (Blended Intensive Programme)?
Blended Intensive Programmes are carried out within the framework of the Erasmus+. They are intensive learning-oriented activities based on innovative ways and methods of teaching, especially online, and take place through the cooperation of multiple partner universities. BIPs therefore include a virtual component and a short-term physical mobility abroad, hosted by the coordinating institution.
Specifically, our BIP is divided into two moments: the first phase, aimed at providing methodological tools for analysing themes and case studies, takes place online through lectures on Teams and forum discussion on Bologna University’s Virtuale platform, a Moodle-based platform (April-May 2026). The second part is a final intensive in-person workshop in Bologna from 15 to 19 June 2026.
At the end of the programme, attending students will obtain 6 ECTS.
Requirements
Sources and activities will be offered in English. A minimum B2 level is expected. No minimum level of language proficiency in Arabic, Chinese or Japanese is required.
PROGRAMME AND SCHEDULE
First part | Online
The online activity will be hosted on Virtuale (a Moodle-based platform) and will be mainly based on readings (secondary sources) carried out and commented on by students on a forum, where they will write down their comments and questions, followed by a lecture held by an instructor member of the BIP. It will run from April to May 2026.
Tentative programme
Please note that some parts, including the schedule (days and times of the lectures), is still provisional and will be finalised shortly.
- Week One: Poetry of Exile: Poetic Practices and Forms of Belonging in the Contemporary Arab World (lecture by Annamaria Bianco: 13 April, 17-19 CET)
- Week Two: Voices That Bind: Oral Poetry, Performance, and Social Cohesion in Arabic Culture (lecture by Chiara Fontana: 23 April,17-19 CET)
- Week Three: Japan, social movements and social media after 3.11 (lecture by Anna Wiemann: 29 April, 17-19 CET)
- Week Four: Japan: Net-Poetry after 3.11 (lecture by Veronica De Pieri: 13 May, 17-19 CET)
- Week Five: Between the Literati and the Folk: Politics and Ideology in Chinese Poetry (lecture by Yang Zhiyi: 20 May, 17-19 CET)
- Week Six: Al Poetry in China: A Boomsday Scenario (lecture by Joanna Krenz: 27 May, 17-19 CET).
As their final assignment for the first part, students will work in groups to draft the abstract of a case study they would like to investigate during the in-person workshop.
Second part | In-person workshop
This part will be based on methodology and primary sources, held on 15-19 June 2026. It will consist of several moments of interaction amongst the students, starting with the discussion of the abstracts drafted by groups as the final task for the online part, and the in-depth study of specific cross-cultural issues, through group activity and discussion roundtables.
The programme of the in-person workshop will include initial group presentations on the online part’s assignment, a guest lecture, a lecture on methodology, a creative workshop and final group presentations.
The final task will be a presentation on the research findings for the case studies chosen by each group.
Funding
As this program is an Erasmus+ Programme, it is possible to receive a grant for the 5 days of the in-person workshop (June 15-19, 2026).
The daily allowance is 79 € per day. In addition, you can receive a travel allowance for basic or green travel. (This means that “low-emission means of transport are used for the majority of the journey, such as bus, train, bicycle, or carpooling” (Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2024)
Option 1 (Basic Travel)
395 € subsistence costs + 211 € travel allowance = 606 €
Option 2 (Sustainable/Green Travel):
395 € subsistence costs + 285 € travel allowance for sustainable travel + 158 € for two additional days of sustainable travel = 838 €
For more information on the Erasmus+ funding scheme please visit the LMU’s Erasmus+ BIP website.
For further information on the BIP please visit its official website or check out this summary: Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme.