Unpacking the three spheres of interest in a blended intensive programme: collaborative learning, blended learning and internationalisation

As innovative activities and methodologies bloom in the panorama of education, three areas of particular interest in the security and defence education field are collaborative learning, blended learning, and internationalisation. These elements are the pillars of Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs), short mobility activities that combine residential and online phases in a collaborative environment. This study aims to understand the effects of collaborative learning, blended learning, and internationalisation on security and defence education. The context of the research is a set of BIPs designed and implemented by the Interdepartmental University School of Strategic Sciences of the University of Turin in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic years. The sample is composed of 209 students who filled out a questionnaire about the effectiveness of the learning modalities and the outcomes achieved after attending one of the seven BIPs. The methodology adopted is the thematic analysis of the students’ open answers, chosen to highlight the impact of collaborative learning, blended learning, and internationalisation on their academic path. The results show the effects of elements combination, such as the development of critical thinking and transversal skills, which are fundamental in the officers’ training.