Virtual remotes teaching laboratories in the progress of a sustainable education

Abstract

Education plays a crucial role in sustainable development. The correct transmission of knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking to the next generations is essential to guarantee the health of modern society. However, data shows that absenteeism and failure among students remain significant issues. Particularly in engineering, a fundamental field for the progress of communities and the quality of life, there seems to be a lack of enthusiasm among new generations. Additionally, in this age of Industry 4.0, the rapid pace of technological advancement means that educational content often fails to align with the realities of the industry. For these reasons, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) has initiated a project aimed at incorporating virtual remote teaching laboratories (VRTL) to enhance engineering education. The goal is to facilitate practical training for students through digital twins that emulate the educational use of university equipment. This approach is intended to foster easier and more effective competency development, keeping students motivated while reducing material resource consumption. This work presents an analysis of the prototype and testing of a VRTL focused on a laser cutting machine, demonstrating the effectiveness and potential future development of this concept.