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.