20 May 2025

CLERT-I4.0: hands-on learning in industry 4.0

The project, led by UPC has received funding from the Unite! Seed Fund under its call for Teaching and Learning projects in Unite!'s strategic focus areas, one of which is Industry 4.0. Collaborative Learning Environments for Research-based Teaching on Industry 4.0 (CLERT-I4.0) addresses the fragmentation of expertise in Industry 4.0 tech across Unite! member universities.

While each institution has strong technical specialisation, this knowledge is often confined to isolated academic programmes. CLERT-I4.0 aims to break these silos by promoting collaborative, research-based learning environments that harness the collective strengths of Unite! universities. The project, now underway, is led by UPC and involves faculty from ULisboa, Aalto University, and TU Darmstadt.

CLERT-I4.0 aims to develop and implement joint research assignments that combine the expertise of each institution, supported by short-term mobility stays for students from the nine Unite! universities. The project also aims to strengthen inter-university collaboration in Industry 4.0 education and research, with a particular focus on 3D printing. 

Approach and Methodology 

The team is working on creating exchange modules that allow students to take on academic components and research assignments (between 12 to 30 ECTS) at a Unite! university other than their home institution. These assignments will be jointly designed and supervised by faculty from the four participating universities, and will tackle interdisciplinary topics such as design and manufacturing, or simulation and testing—fostering innovation and cross-disciplinary learning. 

Assignments will be carried out in hybrid formats, combining physical and virtual mobility. Students will engage in short-term research stays (ideally two months) in laboratories at the host institution, with the option of virtual stays when needed. The Metacampus platform will be used as the central hub for content management, workshops, teaching, and collaboration. 

The pilot phase of the project expects to involve around 16 students, with each university sending and receiving approximately 4 students. English will be the common working language. 

“This initiative is built on a foundation of trust and collaboration among the participating universities, which have already cooperated in several joint proposals and initiatives in the field of Industry 4.0. Unite! reaffirms its commitment to educational excellence and innovation, bridging technical expertise and international student-centered learning.” 

For Unite!, this project paves the way toward a sustainable model for collaborative education, offering attractive joint master's thesis topics and fostering international co-supervision. It is designed to become a scalable and lasting initiative, benefiting from Erasmus+ Traineeship scholarships and potentially expanding to other shared fields of interest.

"Research-based learning has the potential to enhance a much richer student learning experience, and the possibility to collaborate internationally with other laboratories in the alliance is differential to the current offer of studies"