The ERASMUS+ funded “Living Labs for the Students of the Future” (LLSF) project has made significant strides in transforming higher education for the digital age. Launched at the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest (UNSTPB) on September 20, 2023, the project aimed to develop e-Learning Smart Digital Labs and foster a collaborative ecosystem between universities and industries. This initiative sought to address the evolving demands of Industry 4.0 and equip students with the necessary skills for the modern workforce.
LLSF focused on developing key educational tools and platforms, including the “Internet of Things and Data Engineering Training Methodological Toolkit” and a “Distributed eLearning Training Platform,” promoting collaborative and innovative learning environments. A joint training program on IoT and Data Engineering was also created to align educational curricula with industry needs.
Throughout its duration, the project organized several multiplier events and workshops to disseminate its findings and engage with stakeholders. These events included an online multiplier event hosted by Università Politecnica delle Marche on June 18, 2024, which featured presentations on the project’s dashboard, interconnected living labs, and Education 4.0 training strategies, culminating in a stakeholder discussion on synchronizing with the labor market. Another key event, “LLSF Living Labs for the Industry: Skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” held at NOVA de Lisboa on October 9, 2024, brought together industry experts and project leaders to explore living lab projects that enhance industry practices, foster collaboration, and address skills gaps in rapidly evolving sectors. Projects like COMMUNITAS, Smartbear, XpanDH, xShare, DS4HEALTH, and FITTER-EU were presented, highlighting advancements in community engagement, intelligent systems, digital health, knowledge sharing, data science applications, and fitness technologies.
The project’s final multiplier event, held on January 15, 2025, at UNST POLITEHNICA Bucharest, served as a culmination of the LLSF project’s efforts. This event included a welcome address, a presentation of project results, industry insights, and workshops focusing on IoT tools and practices, as well as data science applications in education. Key discussions and outcomes highlighted the project’s emphasis on preparing students for Industry 4.0, the transformative role of technology in education (including AI, digital twins, and VR/AR), the importance of developing future-ready skills, and the imperative of enhanced collaboration between academia and industry. The LLSF project has ultimately contributed to advancing Education 4.0 by developing innovative tools, promoting industry-integrated learning, and fostering collaborative partnerships to bridge the skills gap and equip students for the challenges and opportunities of the digital future.