Virtual Innovative Learning Laboratories for Global Engineering Education (VILLAGE)

Project Information

VILLAGE

Grant agreement ID: 101086464

DOI

10.3030/101086464

EC signature date 26 October 2022

Start date 1 March 2023

End date 28 February 2027

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 837 200,00

Coordinated by

EGE UNIVERSITY
Türkiye

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VILLAGE (Virtual Innovative Learning Laboratories for Global Engineering Education (VILLAGE))

Reporting period: 2023-03-01 to 2025-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The aim of VILLAGE is to re-examine the post-pandemic teaching processes and needs of engineering instructors and students for laboratory practice in a multidimensional, multicultural, and multidisciplinary context, and to determine roadmaps for new instructional design models in line with the opinions of the stakeholders, to create effective and sustainable instructional models, while developing a pilot virtual lab and its learning materials to test the proposed model. VILLAGE is a joint research and innovation (R&I) project in the context of generating a sustainable learning model for laboratory engineering education considering the new normal and the needs of the instructors with the exchange of staff within partnerships of universities, research infrastructures and SMEs in Europe and beyond, which aims to strengthen inter-sectoral and international collaboration. In general, the existence of some virtual laboratories for engineering education is known, and some variables are effectively used. Beyond the state of the art, this project aims not only to design another virtual lab, but to design a sustainable model for engineering laboratories education based on a multidimensional, multicultural and multidisciplinary analysis. The objectives for this purpose are listed below.

1. to analyse the existing instructional design models that are suitable for applied engineering teaching and evaluating their deficiencies for the needs of the new normal,
2. to analysing the needs of engineering instructors for teaching in engineering laboratories with regards to the students’ views while considering the necessities of the new normal,
3. to define the roadmaps for an instructional design model considering the multidimensional, multicultural, and multidisciplinary aspects for online engineering laboratories teaching,
4. to create a sustainable distance education model, test and suggest for engineering laboratories teaching,
5. to develop the skills of academic and non-academic staff with respect to various aspects of engineering laboratories teaching.

By achieving these objectives, VILLAGE expects to contribute to advancing engineering education by promoting innovative instructional approaches, enhancing digital learning practices, and supporting the development of more accessible and sustainable educational environments.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

VILLAGE aims to develop sustainable instructional models suitable for the use of virtual laboratories in engineering education in the post-pandemic. In this context, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to report the role of virtual laboratories in education and the requirements of need analysis methodology (D1.1 Global State of the Art Report and D2.1 Requirements and Needs Analysis Methodology). Additionally, an open-access database of instructional design models (IDMs) was created (D1.2 Open Access Database of Instructional Design Models), a scoring table for the IDMs was developed, and deficiencies of the IDMs were identified (D1.3 Score Ranking of Instructional Design Database and D1.4 Report on Deficiencies in Instructional Design Models). The project was further supported by a needs analysis study that provided an in-depth examination of instructors’ perspectives (D2.2 Needs Analysis Report of Instructors).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The VILLAGE project has made important progress by delivering several key research outputs. These include a global state-of-the-art review of instructional design models (IDMs), the creation of an open-access database of IDMs, a ranked evaluation of IDMs tailored to engineering education, and extensive needs analysis reports from engineering instructors. Together, these results lay the groundwork for developing a sustainable instructional model designed specifically for VR-supported engineering laboratories, responding to the emerging challenges of the post-pandemic education landscape. From a societal viewpoint, VILLAGE will help to strengthen the digital skills of both educators and students, directly contributing to the EU’s ambitions for innovation and digital transformation. In line with the principles of the MSCA Green Charter, the project also promotes sustainable approaches to digital learning while supporting the career development of researchers through targeted secondments, training, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

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