The project’s primary objectives were: 1. Review and identify common Biology laboratory curricula in health-related university programs across the EU. 2. Design, develop, and translate a suite of open-access Biology Virtual Labs for higher education. 3. Create a dedicated e-learning platform to host the VLs and other Open Educational Resources (OERs). 4. Develop comprehensive pedagogical guidelines and a training course for educators on integrating VLs into their teaching. 5. Raise awareness among educators and policymakers about the value and utility of open-access VLs in STEM education.
This project was initiated to address the critical need for high-quality, open-access digital learning resources in higher education, a gap that became particularly evident during the recent global pandemic. The shift to online and blended learning highlighted a scarcity of freely available and curriculum-aligned virtual laboratories (VLs) for STEM subjects, especially for fundamental Biology courses in health science programs. The project aimed to tackle this by creating interactive, accessible, and multilingual VLs to support both remote and in-person lab education. This addresses the needs of higher education institutions seeking to modernize their teaching, educators requiring innovative pedagogical tools, and students needing flexible and engaging learning experiences.