The primary objectives of this BIP are to:
- equip students with strategies to address digital overuse and promote mental well-being;
- foster interdisciplinary collaboration by integrating public health, psychology, and environmental sciences;
- encourage nature-based interventions to balance technology use and enhance resilience.
These goals align with the CIVIS Alliance’s mission to promote international collaboration, interdisciplinary education, and sustainable solutions for societal challenges. The program supports students’ learning by providing evidence-based knowledge, practical skills, and opportunities to engage in critical reflection and intercultural dialogue.
Structure:
Virtual Program (10 sessions)
- weekly 2-hour sessions covering digital habits, mental health impacts, and nature-based interventions led by our team of experts;
- activities: online lectures; pre-recorded lectures, interactive webinars, and self-assessments.
In person training (5 days)
- immersive experiences like forest bathing and workshops on digital detox strategies.
- hands-on activities: Designing community programs and personal action plans.
Following this BIP, the students will gain:
- digital literacy and tools for mindful technology use;
- insights into the mental health benefits of nature-based practices;
- skills to develop community-based wellness initiatives, fostering leadership and advocacy.
The physical mobility section of the BIP will take place between 1-5 June 2026, in Brussels, Belgium.
Day 1: Digital Balance & Nature-Based Interventions (ULB Campus Erasme)
- Digital health, nature-based interventions, sensory awareness
- Icebreaker: “Digital Footprints & Nature Roots”
- Lecture 1: The Psychology of Digital Overuse
- Lecture 2: Nature as a Tool for Digital Health Promotion
- Parcours Méditatif
- Assignment briefing & group formation
Day 2: Mental Health Systems & Digital Self-Regulation (ULB Campus & Hôpital Erasme)
- Mental health services, self-regulation, public health interventions
- Icebreaker: “My Digital Story”
- Lecture 1: Digital Life & Mental Health
- Hospital visit & discussion
- Lecture 2: Strategies for Digital Balance Workshop:
- Micro-intervention design
Day 3: Reconnecting with Forests & Focus (Forest Visit - Namur area, field trip with SRFB)
- Forest therapy, ecological mindfulness, attention restoration
- Tech-free travel & reflection
- Forest immersion & sensory grounding
- Lecture 1: Cognitive Restoration
- Lecture 2: Forest-Based Interventions
- Reflection workshop: “Digital Balance Postcards”
Day 4: Nature in the City: Urban Fieldwork (Green urban spaces - Bois de la Cambre, Forêt de Soignes)
- Urban nature, citizen science, peer learning
- Introduction to group projects: Field observation
- Data collection & interpretation
- Prep for final presentations
Day 5: Final Presentations & Wrap-Up (ULB Campus)
- Synthesis, peer evaluation, personal transformation
- Icebreaker: “My BIP in One Word”
- Group presentations
- Discussion: “Insights & Commitments”
- BIP Evaluation
- Reflection & certificate ceremony
The course will run online over 10 Wednesdays, from 5 PM to 7 PM, between 10 February - 13 May 2026. The sessions will explore the intersection of digital behavior, mental health, and nature-based approaches to well-being.
Key topics and subsequent lectures include:
- Understanding Digital Abuse
- Digital Hygiene and Self-Regulation
- The Digital Business Ecosystem
- Nature-Based Health Interventions: Forest Bathing
- The Impact of Digital Use on Mental Health
- Design Thinking for Well-Being Interventions
- Bridging Theory and Practice