From April 22-24, 2024 the Pilot Teaching week took place, hosted by the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction (AzUAC) and the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry (ASOIU). The Pilot Teaching, which is part of the Erasmus + CBHE “Cross-domain competences for healthy and safe work in the 21st century” (WORK4CE) project activities, presented a series of advanced courses on a range of topics. It provided a unique platform for sharing innovative ideas and practices, facilitating dialogue between educators, students.

1. Digital Twinning in Mechanical Design (Dr. Peter Arras): Participants explored the creation of digital replicas of physical systems, crucial for enhancing design processes and lifecycle management in engineering.
2. Maintenance and Industry 4.0 (Professor Galyna Tabunshchyk): This lecture focused on the integration of smart technologies into maintenance practices, highlighting the transformative impact of Industry 4.0.
3. Designing the Digital Transformation Journey with Maturity Models (Professor Dr. Dino Schoenberg): The course offered insights into assessing organizational digital maturity, providing frameworks to support digital transformation strategies.
4. Tools for Assessing the Impact of Projects on Sustainability (Dr. Carolina Cruz): Attendees learned methodologies for evaluating the sustainability impacts of projects, crucial for aligning with global sustainable development goals.
5. Economic Evaluation of Projects (Jon Aretxaga): This session emphasized the importance of economic evaluation techniques in project management, fostering informed financial decision-making.
6. Embedded Systems (Asif Ganbayev): The course covered the design and implementation of embedded systems, underscoring their role in enhancing the functionality and efficiency of modern technologies.
7. Green Transportation (Customs) & Government Policy (Elvin Alirzayev): Participants examined how government policies and customs regulations are paving the way for sustainable transportation solutions.

During the same week, another important event took place at AzUAC: the “WORK4CE 4.0: Bridging Education and Industry for the Future” which successfully brought together academia and industry, sharing European success stories in educational innovation. It began with a series of compelling presentations. Peter Arras from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) discussed integrating digital skills into engineering and science curricula, while Galyna Tabunshchyk outlined effective strategies from the Erasmus + WORK4CE project for university-industry collaboration. Thorsten Ruben introduced hands-on, project-based teaching methods that involve real-world industry challenges, and Carolina Cruz shared insights from successful university-business collaboration at the University of the Basque Country. Additionally, 4SIM Azerbaijan presented their role in advancing Industry 4.0, emphasizing their ongoing initiatives and partnerships with educational institutions.

A panel discussion followed the presentations, moderated by Peter Arras and Galyna Tabunshchyk. It featured a lively brainstorming session on innovative strategies to enhance university-business collaboration. The discussion concluded with a summary of key points and a roadmap for future collaborations. The event was particularly successful as it garnered considerable interest from industry leaders eager to collaborate with universities in future projects. This enthusiasm underscored the seminar’s effectiveness in bridging the gap between educational institutions and industry needs, setting a promising path for future collaboration.

Throughout this busy week, meetings were organized with the Rectors and staff of AzUAC, ASOIU and ASCCA. These meetings focused on collaborative initiatives and reviewing the status of the Erasmus + WORK4CE project. In addition, these discussions were complemented by visits to the universities, which included stops at the Erasmus + WORK4CE labs at each institution.