The conference reviewed achievements in modernising engineering education and strengthening cooperation with enterprises. Partners presented nine new or modernised study programmes, four published e-books, six equipped physical laboratories, eleven virtual shared laboratories and two remote laboratories providing access to real equipment.

Student and staff training, industrial internships and feedback from employers demonstrated how these resources support practical learning. Partners reported 153 student internships, helping learners apply their knowledge to workplace tasks. Digital learning opportunities also supported access for displaced and refugee learners.

Discussions focused on sustaining the digital learning ecosystem, maintaining laboratory resources and continuing university–enterprise partnerships. The Management Committee reviewed the remaining activities and preparations for final reporting.

We thank all partners for their contributions and UTM for hosting. The consortium looks forward to building on DIGITRANS through continued educational and research cooperation.

The USARB square also became a space for experimentation and discovery. The programme brought together hundreds of researchers, academic staff, students, school pupils, children and families around exhibitions, demonstrations and interactive workshops.

Participants had the opportunity to explore robotics, virtual and augmented reality, activities using FPV goggles, STEAM and eco-workshops, and the Open Science Café, where they could talk directly with researchers. The programme also included visits to USARB laboratories, first-aid activities, interdisciplinary exhibitions, and experiences connecting science with art, economics, engineering and food technologies.

The EU Corner played an important role, showcasing several international projects implemented at USARB with the support of the European Union: Sci-TRUST, MEDIA, DIGITRANS and NeedEDU. Visitors had the opportunity to learn more about the projects’ aims and activities, and about how international cooperation contributes to the development of research, education and innovation at the university.

The presentation of the DIGITRANS project—“Digital Transformation of HEIs’ Education Process in Ukraine and Moldova for Sustainable Engagement with Enterprises” (reference number: 101127683-DIGITRANS-ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE), part of the Erasmus+ programme and co-funded by the European Union—offered examples of what USARB’s participation in European projects means in practice: ideas, partnerships, the exchange of experience, institutional development and connections with the international academic community.

The enthusiasm of the public—children, young people, families, teachers and visitors of all ages—brought energy to the evening and turned every experiment and demonstration into an opportunity for dialogue and learning.

For young people, the EU Corner also served as an invitation to discover European opportunities for research and collaboration, and to view their own academic and professional paths from an international perspective.

From 16 to 18 September 2026, Riga Technical University hosted the DIGITRANS Management Meeting and Workshop on Digital Ecosystems within the Erasmus+ project “Digital transformation of HEIs education process in Ukraine and Moldova for sustainable engagement with enterprises” (DIGITRANS). The three-day programme brought project partners together to review progress, exchange expertise and coordinate the final stages of project implementation.

A central focus of the meeting was the development and piloting of the DIGITRANS Digital Learning Ecosystem, including its integration with the DIGIUNIT platform, staff training activities and engagement with project target groups. Partners also discussed dissemination and exploitation, development of the academia–industry network, interoperability with future digital platforms for Ukrainian universities, and innovative approaches in electrical engineering and industrial electronics.

The final sessions addressed project management, quality assurance, financial and administrative matters, preparation of the Final Report, and upcoming activities. The partners agreed to finalise emerging WP4 and WP5 deliverables, update dissemination and training records, prepare for the October meeting in Kishinev, and continue coordinated work towards successful project completion.

The Riga meeting strengthened cooperation among the DIGITRANS partners and provided a clear framework for completing the remaining project activities and disseminating their results.

The DIGITRANS coordinator Dr Anatolijs Zabašta demonstrated that the interoperability concept between the DIGITRANS Digital Learning Ecosystem (DLE) and the DigiUni digital platform is technically feasible and has already been implemented in a practical form. Through the DigiUni portal, users of Ukrainian universities can access the DIGITRANS DLE Library and, from there, use the virtual and remote laboratory resources developed within the project. In its current implementation, the DLE provides access to 11 laboratories developed by six Ukrainian and Moldovan partner universities: Chernihiv Polytechnic National University — CPNU; Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University — KHNAHU; Lutsk National Technical University — LNTU; Technical University of Moldova — UTM; Alecu Russo State University of Bălți — USARB; B.P. Hasdeu State University of Cahul — USC.

The interoperability approach implemented in the project is deliberately based on a relatively simple and sustainable integration model. DigiUni acts as an access point to external partner educational resources, while the DIGITRANS DLE continues to operate within the technological infrastructure hosted by Chernihiv Polytechnic National University. The integration concept therefore does not require duplication or migration of DIGITRANS resources to the DigiUni infrastructure. Instead, the DLE Library has been incorporated into the “Partner Educational Resources” section of the DigiUni portal, guest access to the corresponding Moodle course has been enabled, and the possibility of launching the SMSE and SREE environments for guest users has been ensured. These three elements constitute the core of the interoperability concept described and demonstrated in this deliverable.

The resulting solution supports the wider dissemination and reuse of DIGITRANS educational resources beyond the boundaries of the project consortium.

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.