BIP Validation Week in Antwerp – Great Experience of Analytical Chemistry and International Collaboration

Group photo of third-year Laboratory Engineering students from TAMK
third-year Laboratory Engineering students from TAMK

From March 31 to April 4, 2025, a group of third-year Laboratory Engineering students from TAMK (Tampere University of Applied Sciences) participated in the BIP Validation intensive course hosted by AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Antwerp, Belgium. The course was held at AP’s brand-new Campus Hallen. This experience brought together students from four European countries to collaborate, learn, and develop their professional skills in the field of analytical chemistry.

What Is BIP Validation?

The BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) Validation course focused on the validation of analytical methods, combining both virtual sessions and practical laboratory work on-site. Prior to the intensive week, students participated in three online sessions, where they introduced their universities, formed international working groups, learned theory of validation, and began designing their laboratory works.

During the intensive week, students worked within international groups, and focused on laboratory techniques such as HPLC, UV/VIS, GC, and fluorometry, and statistical analysis of the results. The final output was a scientific report summarizing their laboratory work and statistical calculations.

 

TAMK Students Reflections

From TAMK seven students — Sanni-Mari Alatalo, Mira Hietanen, Miika Hovikorpi, Riina Jantunen, Venla Neejärvi, Nea Niemi, and Teija Vähäkuopus— worked in multicultural groups with students from Belgium, Poland and Spain. In addition to professional competencies, the week offered cultural exchange, networking opportunities, and unforgettable moments.

TAMK students shared some of their reflections:

“Sometimes you have to go far to truly see what’s near.”

“I got to know myself and my skills better — I realized I actually have strong engineering competencies after all!”

“It was eye-opening to compare different ways of working”

Excellent, spacious laboratory facilities”

 

Why This Matters

The BIP Validation course was an excellent opportunity to the students to have a short-term international experience. The course offered e.g. an opportunity to work in a new laboratory environment, to be a part of an international team, and to develop professional and teamwork skills.

As a teacher, I appreciated the opportunity to meet international colleagues and share experiences and insights on laboratory science and teaching. It was also great to see the new laboratory facilities at Campus Hallen. I took many photos and shared them with my colleagues as well as other things I learned during the visit.

A big thanks to AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts, all the participating students, and especially to Benny Peeters and Ine Opstein, whose hard work made the entire experience a success!

 

Text: Piia Kanto, Senior lecturer in Laboratory Engineering

Figures: Piia Kanto and Bawa Taiseer

 

A student injects sample to the GC instrument
Teija Vähäkuopus injects sample to the GC instrument

 

Student injects sample to the HPLC instrument
Nea Niemi injects sample to the HPLC instrument