The first day combined strategic project discussions with a technical workshop addressing current trends in digital transformation. Experts from ICS DRA DRÄXLMAIER Automotive SRL, SNT Ukraine, and partner universities presented topics ranging from signal processing and agentic AI to the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education and the development of the DIGITRANS Digital Learning Ecosystem (DLE) Library. Participants also visited the DIGITRANS Laboratory at USARB and reviewed progress on piloting the Digital Learning Ecosystem and collecting feedback from target groups.

The second day focused on communication, dissemination, sustainability, and project management. Consortium members discussed the establishment of the academia–industry cooperation network, the long-term sustainability of DIGITRANS results, interoperability concepts for future digital platforms, and the current status of project deliverables, quality assurance, financial management, and upcoming activities.

The meeting concluded with the agreement on key action points and the coordination of the next implementation steps, reinforcing the consortium’s commitment to delivering innovative digital solutions that strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions and enterprises in Ukraine and Moldova.

The DigiUni team introduced its vision of a unified digital education ecosystem that will support online and blended learning through digital courses, VR/AR laboratories, educator training, and long-term digital centres. The DIGITRANS team presented its experience in integrating Moodle with virtual laboratories, Jupyter-based environments, and remote access to real hardware for engineering education.

Discussions focused on possible reuse of digital resources, technical interoperability between platforms, and future collaboration opportunities. Participants also examined integration pathways for online courses and remote laboratory solutions while identifying the need for further technical review at course level.

The meeting strengthened cooperation between the projects and opened perspectives for future joint initiatives in digital transformation of higher education.

The workshop began with an overview of the DIGITRANS project, highlighting key results, USARB’s contribution, and the impact of project activities on engineering education. Participants also discussed measures to ensure the sustainability of project outcomes beyond the project lifetime.

A central theme of the event was the transfer of knowledge gained during study visits and training activities at European partner institutions. Participants explored innovative teaching approaches, simulation software, digital assessment tools, multimedia resources, and student-centred learning methods applicable to engineering education.

The workshop further presented the DIGITRANS Digital Learning Ecosystem, emphasizing Moodle as the core platform for managing learning resources. Sessions demonstrated the benefits of gamification, programming environments, and data analysis tools for enhancing student engagement and learning effectiveness. Participants also examined the educational opportunities provided by newly established digital laboratories and project-funded equipment.

Special attention was given to evaluating the new and modernized courses developed within DIGITRANS, including subjects related to electric and autonomous vehicles, automation, and engineering bionics. Feedback from students and academic staff indicated strong satisfaction with the updated curricula, recognizing their relevance to labour market demands and their contribution to developing professional and digital skills.

The workshop concluded with discussions on maintaining and further developing the digital infrastructure created through the project. Participants reflected on key achievements, lessons learned, and future priorities, reaffirming USARB’s commitment to advancing digital transformation and innovation in higher education through the DIGITRANS project.

It was a day full of dialogue, curiosity, and meaningful connections,  with young people, specialists, and citizens interested in what innovation means in the service of a more sustainable future. 

The DigiUni team introduced its vision of a unified digital education ecosystem that will support online and blended learning through digital courses, VR/AR laboratories, educator training, and long-term digital centres. The DIGITRANS team presented its experience in integrating Moodle with virtual laboratories, Jupyter-based environments, and remote access to real hardware for engineering education.

Discussions focused on possible reuse of digital resources, technical interoperability between platforms, and future collaboration opportunities. Participants also examined integration pathways for online courses and remote laboratory solutions while identifying the need for further technical review at course level. The meeting strengthened cooperation between the projects and opened perspectives for future joint initiatives in digital transformation of higher education.

The two-day hybrid event brought together the DIGITRANS implementation team, academic staff, undergraduate and master’s students, and industry representatives, including ICS DRAEXLMAIER AUTOMOTIVE SRL, Magnetec Components SRL, Gebauer & Griller, and Vizitare Climatică SRL.

The opening session highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. Presentations delivered during the first day focused on USARB’s achievements in digitalizing engineering education, the development of Digital Learning Ecosystems (DLE), and the strengthening of partnerships with the socio-economic environment. Particular attention was given to addressing the acquisition and piloting of DLE.

The workshop also included sessions on knowledge transfer from DIGITRANS Student Schools hosted in Latvia, Romania, and Greece, as well as discussions on fostering innovative partnerships in digital education.

The second day focused on integrating research and applied collaboration within DLE, emphasizing research-based learning, the use of digital and AI tools, and the role of industry partnerships in enhancing students’ competencies. Students presented research projects developed in collaboration with industry partners, highlighting the practical application of knowledge and the importance of interdisciplinary learning.

Through its involvement in the DIGITRANS project, USARB reaffirms its commitment to modernizing engineering education, advancing digital transformation, and strengthening sustainable partnerships, in line with European higher education priorities.

More than 400 pupils from the municipality of Bălți and Sângerei district had the opportunity to explore the educational offer of universities in the Republic of Moldova, presented at the Fair of the Universitys hosted by USARB. They received detailed information about study programmes and interacted directly with potential mentors who can guide their future professional paths.

The event was organized within the national campaign “Study in Moldova”, initiated by the Ministry of Education and Research, aiming to support young people in career guidance and in choosing an appropriate educational pathway. The official opening featured inspirational messages delivered by representatives of the Ministry of Education and Research, USARB alumni from various fields, and representatives of U.C.S. DRA DRAEXLMAIER AUTOMOTIVE S.R.L., a beneficiary of the DIGITRANS project. They shared relevant experiences and perspectives, encouraging young people to follow their vocation, take advantage of study opportunities in Moldova, and view education as a secure investment in their future.

The USARB project implementation team, together with U.C.S. DRA DRAEXLMAIER AUTOMOTIVE S.R.L, presented the DIGITRANS project – “Digital transformation of HEIs education process in Ukraine and Moldova for sustainable engagement with enterprises” (Ref. No. 101127683-DIGITRANS-ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE). Thus, the event contributed to the promotion of the DIGITRANS project and to the dissemination of results and activities achieved at the consortium level

Significant advancements were reported across the project. Work Package 2 has been largely completed, with all deliverables submitted and accepted, marking an important milestone. In Work Package 3, partners demonstrated progress in developing remote and virtual laboratories, reinforcing the project’s objective to modernize digital learning environments. Meanwhile, Work Package 4 highlighted the successful completion of student training activities in EU universities, exceeding initial targets and demonstrating strong engagement.

A key highlight of the workshop was the technical session delivered by Prof Michael Ban from RWTH Aachen University, focusing on the application of Jupyter Notebooks and JupyterLab in data science and education. This session provided practical insights into integrating modern computational tools into academic curricula.

Dissemination activities under Work Package 5 were also reviewed, confirming active partner engagement through institutional websites and social media channels. Partners were encouraged to further enhance visibility by sharing detailed updates, photos, and success stories. Looking ahead, the consortium confirmed upcoming milestones, including the Digital Ecosystem Workshop in Balti and the final conference hosted by Technical University of Moldova in October 2026. The workshop concluded with clear action points and reinforced commitment to delivering high-quality outputs and sustainable impact within the project framework.

The intensive program combined theoretical lectures, practical demonstrations, and software-based examples, enabling participants to gain both conceptual understanding and practical insights into emerging energy technologies. The training was structured around three main thematic areas: microgrid design tools, cybersecurity in energy systems, and inverter design and simulation for electric mobility applications.

Students were introduced to the principles of microgrid modelling and optimization, including the use of specialized software platforms such as HOMER, REopt, and Xendee for evaluating energy system performance and resilience. In addition, sessions on cybersecurity in digital energy infrastructures addressed key topics such as encryption techniques, secure communication, and protection against cyber threats in modern power networks. The training also explored power electronics and electric vehicle charging technologies, focusing on inverter operation, bidirectional power conversion, and simulation approaches used in EV onboard charger systems.

A total of 38 students registered for the training school. The activity fostered collaboration between partner institutions and provided students with valuable interdisciplinary knowledge related to the design, operation, and protection of future smart energy systems.

Overall, the DIGITRANS Training School represented an important step toward developing digital competencies and preparing future engineers for the challenges of sustainable and resilient energy infrastructures.

The training school combined lectures, practical sessions, laboratory visits and industry excursions, offering participants a comprehensive learning experience that connected theoretical knowledge with real-world applications. The programme covered topics such as computer-aided design (CAD), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), electric and hybrid vehicle testing, hydrogen and alternative fuels in transport, vehicle diagnostics, advanced automotive materials and the environmental impact of electric vehicles.

Students also had the opportunity to visit automotive industry facilities and local research laboratories, gaining insight into modern engineering practices and innovative technologies used in the sector. Cultural activities, including a city tour of Galati and a visit to the Natural Science Museum Complex, complemented the academic programme and fostered networking among participants.

The school gathered 33 students (20 onsite and 13 online) from partner institutions including Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University, Chernihiv Polytechnic National University, Lutsk National Technical University, Technical University of Moldova, Alecu Russo Balti State University and Cahul State University. Participants highly appreciated the quality and organisation of the programme, confirming the strong impact and relevance of the training activities.

Overall, the DIGITRANS Student Training School successfully contributed to enhancing students’ technical knowledge, practical skills and international collaboration, preparing future engineers for the rapidly evolving automotive and transport sectors.

Funded by the European Union under the DIGITRANS project.