When a partner university departed and Erasmus Mundus funding ended, the BIM A+ European Master Course faced an uncertain future. Rather than dissolving the programme or immediately seeking a replacement partner, the remaining consortium made an unconventional choice: continue with two universities instead of three, finding creative solutions to maintain quality whilst reducing complexity.
Three years later, the programme not only survives but thrives, attracting approximately 700 applications annually for a Master's course that prepares professionals for the rapidly evolving construction industry.
"Without Erasmus Mundus funding, it would never have been possible to build it," is a common perception by Miguel Azenha and Tomo Cerovšek, Coordinators of BIM A+ at the University of Minho and the University of Ljubljana, respectively. The European Commission's support was essential for launching the programme in 2019. However, when circumstances required the consortium to operate independently, they discovered that sustainability sometimes demands simplification rather than expansion, and creativity rather than traditional structures.
The BIM A+ European Master Course in Building Information Modelling is delivered jointly by the University of Minho (Portugal) and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). It operates as a one-year programme – an exception within Erasmus Mundus, where most programmes run for two years. This shorter structure, designed for working professionals in construction, shapes many of the programme's operational decisions.
Programme Origins and Forced Adaptation
BIM A+ launched in 2019 as an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Programme with three partner institutions. The programme addressed a clear industry need: preparing professionals to work with Building Information Modelling, a technology reshaping the construction sector. From the start, demand was strong. The first cohort enrolled 43 students, with 25 receiving Erasmus Mundus scholarships. Notably, 18 students chose to pay the full tuition fee of EUR 9,000, showing strong programme appeal even without financial support.
The consortium's structure, however, would soon change. Following the departure of one partner institution, the University of Minho and the University of Ljubljana faced the need for a difficult joint decision. With only two partners, they no longer met the minimum requirements for Erasmus Mundus funding. They could seek a third partner to reapply for funding, or continue independently with their existing partnership.
The consortium chose continuation over expansion. Miguel explains the rationale: They considered that managing two partners could end up being more practical than three under a self-funded model. Financial resources could be distributed more efficiently whilst maintaining the same level of effort, and the partnership could operate with a lighter administrative framework adapted to its self-funded model. The consortium maintained academic collaboration with the former third partner, Politecnico di Milano, by inviting their lecturers to contribute to teaching, but simplified the administrative and financial structure.
Creative Financial Solutions
BIM A+'s financial model relies entirely on tuition fees, which have remained at EUR 9,000 since the programme's inception. The consortium requires approximately 20 to 30 students per cohort to remain both viable and manageable. This target is consistently met, demonstrating sustained demand. Although a significant number of applicants withdraw upon realising that full Erasmus Mundus scholarships are no longer available, the programme continues to attract sufficient students willing to pay tuition fees.
The programme offers consortium scholarships to approximately half of enrolled students, ranging from EUR 5,000 to EUR 14,000, though these don't match the generosity of Erasmus Mundus awards. The partnership operates on an innovative reciprocal basis that eliminates financial transfers between institutions. Students pay tuition fees to the university where they spend their first semester. In the second semester, each institution hosts the other's students, creating a natural exchange without money changing hands. This arrangement is formalised as an 'Academic Cooperation Agreement' providing a clear and proportionate framework for collaboration between the two institutions.
Student distribution is not balanced: approximately 60% begin in Portugal, 40% in Slovenia. Portugal's extensive embassy network facilitates visa acquisition, making it more accessible for international students. While the University of Minho supports consortium-wide coordination (e.g., website, applications, communications), the University of Ljubljana leads equally critical aspects of academic delivery and student experience, hosting half of the teaching and supervising numerous dissertations through strong links with Central European industry.
Beyond the core financial structure, the consortium found creative solutions for programme elements that previously relied on grant funding. The Erasmus Mundus grant had covered students' travel and accommodation costs for the Integration Week, a key event for building cohort cohesion. Rather than eliminating this important tradition, the consortium rescheduled it to coincide with students' existing mobility between partner universities, eliminating additional accommodation and travel expenses. This strategic timing allows the Integration Week to continue without additional consortium costs.
What Makes BIM A+ Sustainable
Beyond financial mechanisms, BIM A+'s ability to operate independently relies on several factors.
Building Information Modelling is an industry priority, with the construction sector actively adopting these practices, creating sustained demand for trained professionals. The programme appeals to architects, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, and electronic engineers in construction. Few Master's programmes in this field are offered in English, making BIM A+ uniquely accessible to international students.
The one-year structure serves working professionals effectively. Students can complete training quickly, taking leave from work only during the first semester for coursework, then developing their dissertation within their companies during the second semester. This allows students to maintain career momentum and income.
Strong industry partnerships reinforce programme relevance. Approximately 80% of student theses are conducted in collaboration with associated partners. Some thesis topics are even proposed by programme alumni now working in industry, keeping curriculum aligned with current practice.
People-Centered Sustainability
"Excellence cannot be imposed on colleagues," Miguel explains. Instead, he has fostered an environment of trust and mutual respect during his general coordinator role in the funded period of BIM A+, allowing team members freedom to work independently whilst leading by example. This attitude has remained in the current self-funded cooperation terms. Over time, this approach has strengthened relationships, transforming professional interactions into friendships and enabling organic collaboration within the team.
Beyond team dynamics, the programme creates a family-like environment for students, emphasising individual attention throughout their journey. Each cohort has a dedicated WhatsApp group established by Miguel, allowing students to stay connected and seek guidance when needed. This personal touch extends beyond academics into genuine support structures.
"The most effective marketing strategy is leveraging alumni as ambassadors," Miguel notes. For this to work naturally, the programme must maintain its excellence. The programme's website features a 'Testimonials' section providing firsthand accounts of the Master's experience. An 'Alumni' section lists former students with links to their LinkedIn profiles, enabling prospective students to connect directly with graduates for insights and guidance.
The programme manages its own outreach rather than relying solely on university promotion. This includes consistent social media activity, engagement with alumni posts, and regular updates to testimonials. To optimise marketing efforts, BIM A+ has hired a Portuguese company to handle social media presence. The contract remains lightweight, with the programme actively involved in content creation while the company refines and places materials strategically.
The programme remains listed in the Erasmus Mundus catalogue as a former Erasmus Mundus programme, which continues to serve as an important entry point for prospective students discovering the programme.
Lessons: Creativity Over Complexity
"The consortium realised that their current setup was functioning effectively, without having to meet European Commission requirements," Miguel explains. After losing both a partner and Erasmus Mundus funding, BIM A+ found that a two-partner structure was well suited to its scale and objectives. Financial resources are aligned with programme needs, administrative coordination is manageable, and the partnership maintains a strong focus on programme quality.
For BIM A+, sustainability meant addressing genuine market demand in a niche with limited competition, serving the target audience effectively, and maintaining straightforward financial models.
Quality drove sustainability more than large budgets. For alumni to become ambassadors, the programme maintains excellence in academic content and student experience through continuous curriculum adaptation and personal attention.
The experience also suggests that programmes should continuously assess whether their structure serves their mission. Sometimes simplification strengthens rather than weakens a programme.
Building Forward
Three years after circumstances forced adaptation, BIM A+ demonstrates that sustainability can emerge from constraint. When a partner departed and funding ended, the programme could have dissolved or struggled through diminished operations. Instead, the consortium transformed limitations into advantages: simpler coordination, clearer responsibilities, creative resource management, and unwavering focus on quality and student experience.
The 700 applications the programme receives annually tell the story more clearly than any sustainability framework. Students seek out BIM A+ not because of funding support or institutional prestige, but because it effectively prepares them for careers in a rapidly evolving industry. The programme survives because it serves a genuine need exceptionally well, with creativity compensating for what funding once provided.
For more information on the BIM A+ programme, please visit BIM A+ European Master in BIM - Building Information Modelling.
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