The UbiLAB project aims towards creating a framework for ubiquitous virtual, remote and software laboratories implemented in the cloud - UbiLAB. As a result of the limitations imposed by the Covid-19 Pandemic, the presence of students in the university laboratories is significantly limited. Coming from a university teaching background, all project partners have identified that at the moment, the most affected aspect of students’ study experience are the laboratory experiments that used to be conducted on-site, in the laboratories. In this project, we will be working towards implementing digital technologies in the process of laboratory work and experiments. These are rarely completely transferred into the digital world. Nevertheless, today's challenges have pushed forward the need to intensively explore down this road and provide as good solutions as possible. Taking into account the learning experience educators are used to providing their students, we have identified two most difficult challenges: a nearly realistic substitute for learning experiences in the actual physical laboratories and a nearly realistic substitute for the social element of collaborative learning and “making friends” in the process. Thus, the innovative cloud-based UboLAB framework should address these challenges. And on this track, the UbiLAB framework would enable vast possibilities for digitizing actual laboratory experiments and enhancing the reality of students' experience. The project is proposed by three higher education organizations: The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (FEEIT) at the University Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, N. Macedonia, University of Maribor (UM FERI), Slovenia, and the Anhalt University (HSA), Germany. All three participants are highly skilled in the proposed activities that will be conducted to realize the project, and have a great inside insight into the challenges being addressed in the project. The project envisions an innovative framework, designed to support different types of endpoints: hardware devices, virtual devices, software solutions. The UbiLAB framework will: present a foundation for a rich and diverse set of laboratory experiments; enable customizable modules supporting software and hardware exercises; promote collaborative engagement on several levels; be extensible as open-source software.The planned activities enabling the fulfilment of the project goals comprise research and architecture design for the virtual laboratory framework; development of the core framework elements; design and implementation of software-based remote laboratories; design and implementation of hardware-based remote laboratories; and finally designing and publishing the UbiLAB framework multimedia manual and example exercises in order to disseminate the results and support the use of the framework. After the successful realization of the project activities, we expect that the UbiLAB project would succeed in producing its main result - a freely available open-source UbiLAB framework for digital remote and virtual laboratories. At first, it will be directly applicable to technical universities, but also expandable to address digitalization issues in many other departments (technology, medicine, civil engineering, architecture). Finally, the UbiLAB project will enable the exchange of good practices within the European partners. The establishment of the UbiLAB framework will then contribute to the advancement of conducting laboratory experiments and research in the virtual world, strengthening Europe’s digital capacities. The impact of the project will be local for each university and country, but also regional through the close cooperation of the project partners. Consequently, the analysis and dissemination of the project results would have greater value and impact, hence including the experience of students and staff coming from various geographical, cultural and educational environments. The immediate impact of the project should be the normalization of the education process which has been severely impaired by the covid-19 pandemic. As institutions of higher education, the participating organisations and their students as the target groups will thus be positively affected by the project already in the short-term. The long-term impact will be the general improvement of the conditions of laboratory-based education and the modernization of existing educational practices. Furthermore, through the joint development, testing, and usage of the framework, we expect an increase in networking, collaboration, socialization and experience exchange among the participants.

<< Objectives >>Restrictions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 forced choirs to suspend physical rehearsals. Relegated to the “home office”, some choirs initiated online rehearsals to continue singing together. While the experiences from the pandemic show that online rehearsals basically work, many limitations remain. This project seeks to enable choirs to carry out online rehearsals by consolidating the lessons learned and designing guidelines regarding technology, choir pedagogy and social interaction.<< Implementation >>First, this project will identify the state-of-the-art of online choir rehearsals. Subsequently, technology solutions and principles for carrying out online choir rehearsals will be designed. Those concepts will build on identified best practices, address existing limitations, and consider different requirement profiles. The designed technology solutions and principles will be evaluated in rehearsals with an online laboratory choir and refined using insights from surveys and expert workshops.<< Results >>The results of this project include 1) a documentation of the state-of-the-art of online choir rehearsals from a technological, choir pedagogical, and socio-technical perspective; 2) guidelines concerning technology solutions, for conducting online rehearsals as well as for increasing technology acceptance and fostering interaction during online rehearsals; and 3) identification and description of (digital) competencies to carry out online rehearsals.

MOOC-2-PRAC-4-UNAKLIM: „From Massive Open Online Course to Practice for Environmental-, Nature- and Climate Protection with 4 Consortium Countries: Creation Courses in Environmental Topics using Blended Learning”OBJECTIVEMOCC-2-PRAC-4-UNAKLIM, the cross border massive open online course targets adult learning. Its topics are “green”, e.g. environmental topics, renewable energies and others. Cross cutting modules are environmental project management, international communication, biological-natural modelling, simulation or basic STEM courses. We act in the context of Furthering Education Adult Training, Digital Learning, environmental topics. Unemployed adults shall improve their reintegration chances into the labor market. Principle is Open Access Digital Learning. A variety of courses is offered and can be combined in modules to gain certificates. Several certificates can be combined into a degree. Participants learn independent of geographical location, time of the day and at their own speed. An innovative training concept (Handbook and Tool Kit) to upskill MOOC trainers will make the course interactive, lively to prevent premature dropout. Potential trainers can download it for free. In a Train-The-Trainer-workshop we test it before Handbook and Tool Kit go public.We add a Blended Learning Tool Kit, face-to-face exercises, in seminar rooms (communication, leadership, Project Management), laboratories (chemical, biological analyses), assembly halls (i.e. building solar panels), in the field (i.e. water and soil sampling). The Tool Kit enables trainers to select experiments based on individual needs.5 PARTICIPANTS of 4 countries Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania cooperate, among them 2 NGOs, 2 Universities and 1 Research Institution. Hochschule Anhalt: coordinator, focus biomedical engineering, renewable energies, digital applications. ubb eV.: focus on social and environmental projects. Polip: NGO, focus on young people education, entrepreneurial topics: Oradea University, focus on geography and Digital Learning, MEERI PAS: the Polish Academy of Science, focus on geothermal and renewable energies.ACTIVITIES•MOOC design with structures, functions•Input of “green” topics•Innovative training methods Concept for MOOC Digital Learning•Train-The-Trainer concept, Handbook,Tool Kit, Test in a TTT course•Blended Learning Concept, Handbook, Tool Kit.2 Multiplier Events and 4 Transnational Meetings are planned. A Marketing concept and Sustainability & Exploitation Plan will determine the MOOC’s future after funding. FURTHER ACTIVITIES ARE a project website, partner meetings, newsletters, excursions, disseminations.METHODIC MANAGEMENT COMPONENTS•Project Management Office (PMO), steering group•Meetings, minutes, quality circle, project review •General Assembly•Stakeholder Advisory BoardTOOLS TO ENSURE PROJECT PROGRESS: Null-Hundred-Method, Task & Allocation Table, Gantt-Chart, Critical Path Analysis, Milestone Trend Analysis, Report templates, communication strategy, Responsibility Matrix.PROJECT RESULTS are DISSEMINATED by email, blogs, websites, Twitter, Facebook, networks, conferences, publications, fairs, on local, regional, national and international level – by digital, paper, shared on EPALE and Erasmus Results Platform.EXPECTED RESULTS•MOOC server with courses, modules, test and module recommendation, participant network platform•Innovative Training Handbook•TTT Handbook•Blended Learning Handbook•Newsletter IMPACT ON TARGET GROUPS ON LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL Enhanced expertise, mutual learning, knowledge transfer in an international environment. Multiplier events and dissemination activities create attention of local, regional and national public, create synergies and strengthen the participating organizations and the local regions.•Consortium: sharpened profile, improved self-esteem, scientific upskill•Participants, end users: knowledge upskill, better qualification, work mobility, better jobs, less poverty•Trainers: upskill to digital and blended courses•Institutions: knowledge upskill, visibility, networks•Politicians: decisions support by sharing new knowledgeLONG TERM BENEFIT AND IMPACT IN EUROPE AND BEYONDMore green networks in remote regions, better international cooperation and adult learning quality, increased cross-border knowledge and people mobility, reduced European expert shortage, stronger European competitiveness, new job opportunities in Europe and worldwide, less poverty, better inclusion of the unemployed into society, more green jobs, contribution to European Climate Protection Targets.We comply with UN Sustainability Goals and support the Mobility Strategy 2020 for European Higher Education Area, European inventory on validation of non-formal / informal learning 2014, EPALE strategies, European Education&Training Strategy 2020. Europe 2020 Strategy Climate&Energy Targets, National Digital Agendas.

PROMISE aims to create an alliance of photovoltaic excellence through scientific, engineering and research performance within the Maltese research community reliability of existing and emerging module technologies and systems, including the digitalisation aspects for prediction and optimisation algorithms for innovative solutions to support the energy transition. The Maltese research community, led by the Foundation for Innovation and Research – Malta (FiR) and supported by local technology innovator PIXAM Ltd. will stimulate scientific excellence and sustained collaborations with four world-leading research institutions AIT (Austria), CENER (Spain), CEA (France), and BI Becquerel Institute (Belgium), and Anhalt University of Applied Sciences (Germany) as the leading EU academic applied practice partner. In particular, PROMISE will perform two programmes in research and knowledge considering gender balance, early career researchers and sustainable development goals. The research framework includes a bottom-up approach for a Malta-based research platform on PV reliability, including infrastructure, data collection, analysis and modelling/verification through module test rig, satellite and drone vision technologies and an in-field database of solar module manufacturers. The knowledge gain and transfer framework includes capacity building activities, including a series of workshops, winter/summer schools, training programmes, internships, meetings, mentoring, and research management and administration upskilling. The PROMISE results, lessons learnt, best practices, and success stories will feed a scalability opportunity, extending the research platform to a nationwide/regional landscape while also generating concrete research capacity for a more enabling environment for research in PV reliability in Malta as a solar country and regional energy hub.

<< Objectives >>TRAINER aims to achieve a shared model for VET needs in Ecological Restoration, identify knowledge from educators/users, that each currently use and may use in the future; detect gaps in knowledge production and transfer; contribute to designing effective vocational training programs that integrate the specificities of the different socio-ecological systems, scientific and technical skills, including language, inclusion and cultural barriers, within a European framework that guarantees quality.<< Implementation >>3 successive activities will provide the core project inputs: survey, focus groups and workshop. A 4th will provide the analysis and recommendations for the final project guidelines on VET improvements in ecological restoration. Finally, two parallel activities will provide quality project management -also integrating KPIs and long term impact measurement-, communication, dissemination and exploitation of activities and results.<< Results >>The project will provide: 1. Identification of needs on training in ecological restoration in the private and public sectors; 2. Outline of a common model of training in restoration ecology; 3. Report summarizing the results of the Knowledge Exchange workshop; 4. Summary of the results and recommendations on training needs in ecological restoration into Guidelines and a manuscript for a scientific paper. 5. Communication and exploitation outcome materials.