When it comes to university life, some of the most valuable lessons happen outside the classroom. The Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences (BBSS) program at IE University embraces that idea by valuing collaboration, interpersonal growth, and building community as essential parts of student life. And they’ve dedicated an entire day to celebrating exactly that.
Welcome to BBSS Day: a unique and purpose-driven event designed specifically for students in the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences program. Held on the Madrid campus and bringing together over 300 global students from both the Segovia and Madrid campuses, BBSS Day is a lot more than just a social gathering. Rather, it’s a hands-on experience that encourages students to step outside their comfort zones and grow as members of the IE community and future behavioral science professionals.
The Vision Behind BBSS Day
Designed to create a unique opportunity for students to come together in a welcoming and low-pressure environment, BBSS Day creates space for students to meet, collaborate, and begin building the social connections that nourish both academic and personal growth.
According to Vice Dean Alistair Fildes, “Key elements of the BBSS program are the use of interpersonal skills to get to know one another and to work as a community. Therefore, the focus of BBSS Day is people meeting people they don’t know, asking questions, and then trying to work together as a team to build something new.”
It’s essentially a hands-on, human-centered complement to the academic side of the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences curriculum: a day that brings behavioral science to life through real interpersonal experiences.
Creative Ways to Connect
One of the highlights of BBSS Day is its carefully curated set of activities. Far from static lectures or cringy icebreakers, the event is built around interactive challenges that promote teamwork, creativity, and communication among BBSS students.
For example, students who had never met before were grouped into teams and handed large boxes of LEGO bricks… but with a twist. Organizers gave each group a concept and asked them to construct something new that represented that idea.
“The focus wasn’t the LEGOs,” Alistair explains. “It was about problem-solving as a team. They had to build not just structures, but relationships.”
Other activities challenged students to invent new objects with limited time and materials, again focusing on collaboration over competition. These tasks were designed to push students to engage, trust, and rely on each other, regardless of their existing social circles.
The “why” behind these activities is simple yet powerful: interpersonal skills are just as important as academic ones, especially in a field like behavioral science.
A Step Beyond Networking
While the idea of networking often comes up in academic life, BBSS Day offers something a little different… and perhaps even more authentic.
“Networking is basically a fancy word for getting to know people and for them to get to know you,” Fildes shared. What matters more, he emphasized, is developing social skills and building trust.
“No one ever asks how big your network is,” he added. “They ask: Do I want to be around this person? Do I want to work with them?”
In that spirit, Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences Day is about so much more than just exchanging contacts; it’s about forming genuine connections that can support students throughout their academic journey and beyond.
What Does Success Look Like at BBSS Day?
There’s no grand finale or final product that marks the success of BBSS Day. Instead, the goal is far simpler and far more human. “If each student walks away from this event knowing one more person than they did before,” said Alistair, “that to me is a success.”
And often, that’s exactly what happens. The day lowers barriers, encourages participation, and leaves students with a clearer sense of who they’re studying with—and who they might want to work with next.
In a nutshell, the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences program is about understanding people: how we think, how we behave, and how we influence each other. And BBSS Day is a reflection of those principles in action. It’s a day for students to engage with each other, step into new dynamics, and build the skills that will serve them both inside and outside the classroom. And finally, it’s a reminder that education isn’t only about what you learn, but who you learn it with. And that every meaningful connection made is a step forward.
Curious to Learn More About the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences at IE University?
The Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences is a full-time, four-year undergraduate program at IE University. This hands-on, multidisciplinary degree equips students to study, understand, and influence human behavior. By integrating multiple social science disciplines, the program offers a well-rounded perspective on human nature.
BBSS Day is just one part of what makes the Bachelor in Behavior and Social Sciences at IE University such a unique and purpose-driven program. So if you’re looking for a degree that blends academics, real-world learning, and a strong sense of community, check out the full program here.
