Research Project Description:

The main objective of the VHEalthLAb project is the creation of Virtual Labs (VL) in Biology. Laboratory experiments are a vital educational tool. They help students develop 21st century skills such as complex problem solving, creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. The closure of schools during the pandemic brought to light numerous problems in the teaching of STEM laboratory courses, both in tertiary and secondary education. Face-to-face labs have, until recently, been the norm, but the use of VL is gaining momentum, both in STEM fields and at all educational levels. Most of the high quality VLs available are either not freely accessible or not suitable for the curricula being implemented. During the pandemic, the education world faced the challenge of how students could complete their lab work and gain the aforementioned skills and competencies without the need for physical presence.

Principal Investigator(s) and Coordinating Institution(s):

  • Dr Stella Nicolaou, Associate Professor of Immunology, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia

 Researchers at University of Nicosia Medical School:

  • Dr Soulla Nicolaou, Associate Professor in Pharmacology

**Other Researcher(s) Participating in the Project:

  • Maria Evagorou, Professor, School of Education
  • Efie Nisiforou, Assistant Professor, Distance Education, School of Education

Other Participating Institution(s):

  • Greece (Aristotelio Panepistimio Thesalonikis)
  • Spain (Univeridad de Santiago De Compostela)
  • Cyprus (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth)
  • Romania (Ascendia SA)

Research Project Acronym: VHEalthLab

UNIC Participating Institution:

  • UNIC

 Funding Agency: European Union (Erasmus+ Cooperation partnerships in Higher Education)

Funding Programme: KA220-HED-Cooperation partnerships in higher education

***UNIC/UNRF Budget: 59,472 Euros

Total Research Project Budget: 250,000 Euros

Research Project Status: Ongoing

Start and End Dates: 01/12/2023-30/11/2025

Funding Programme and/or Research Project Logo:

 

Related Links: https://www.unic.ac.cy/pragmatopoiithike-i-enarktiria-synedriasi-toy-programmatos-vhealthlab/

*Related Conference Participations: AMEE, Basel, 2024