Pakistani universities MUET, GIKI, QUEST, and UETP, partners in the project, participated in the four-day EU-funded (CBHE) CATCH_VR project progress meeting hosted by the Technical University of Sofia (TUS), Bulgaria. The meeting marked a significant step forward in realizing the CATCH_VR project’s objectives, strengthening collaboration across international institutions to advance sustainable and innovative engineering education.
The meeting, jointly chaired by Prof Agata (TUS) and Prof BS Chowdhry (MUET) reviewed key updates from various project committees, including Project Management, Curriculum Development, Lab Development, the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Digital Twin Technology, Quality Assurance, Data Protection, Risk Management, Capacity Building, and Dissemination Strategies. Prof. Dr. Agata Manolova (TUS) and Dr. Ali Turab Jafery (GIKI) delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining:
• A high-level overview of curriculum development, including needs assessment and analysis.
• Insights into current curriculum strengths and weaknesses and identified learning gaps.
• Consideration of industry trends, student needs, and global educational standards.
• Develop innovative curriculum designs that emphasize accessibility and diverse learning styles.
• Strategies for incorporating formative and summative assessments alongside innovative instructional methodologies.
Prof. Dr. Pardeep Kumar (QUEST) provided a detailed update on laboratory infrastructure development, emphasizing the integration of state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. Prof. Dr. Tahir Khan (UETP) presented progress on establishing the Center of Excellence, highlighting its pivotal role in advancing research and applications of digital twin technologies. Prof. Dr. Radu Terca (UO) outlined measures for ensuring project quality, data security, and effective risk mitigation strategies. Dr. Lubna Luxmi Dhirani (UL) shared a roadmap for capacity-building initiatives, focusing on training programs to enhance institutional and faculty competencies. Muhammad Zakir Shaikh (MUET) detailed upcoming dissemination plans, including potential topics, formats, and timelines for future outreach activities. Dr. Abi Waqas (UCC) led discussions on effective financial management strategies for the project.
The meeting also included laboratory visits to showcase the integration of AR/VR and digital twin technologies in action. These visits gave participants a hands-on perspective of the project’s practical applications. Associated partners Rastek Technologies and Engineering Review also participated online.