Massive Open Online Laboratories is a collaborative project with the aim of sharing the expertise and infrastructures of “EPFL: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne” and “HES-SO: University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland” in digital education with online labs with several institutions from the global south: Iran, Niger, Lebanon and Djibouti.

In engineering education, laboratories represent an important academic resource as they provide practical training in addition to the fundamental theories. However, the acquisition of new machinery and the maintenance of the equipment imply a large investment that only a limited number of universities can afford. Remote laboratories allow students and educators to interact with real laboratory equipment located anywhere in the world, at any time. Consequently, the global south countries with limited funds for education resources can take best advantage of them. Remote laboratories offer excellent alternatives to southern countries as they may run through modern telecommunication technologies to enhance experimental learning and teaching objectives along with sharing remote infrastructures.

Project summary

Swiss Partners

HES-SO/Valais - University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland
Prof Dr Fariba Moghaddam 

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Dr Denis Gillet and Dr Christophe Salzmann

South partners

Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran
Dr Amir Abolfazl Suratgar

University of Kurdistan, Iran
Dr Qobad Shafiee

Université de Abdou Moumouni, Niger
Dr Nomaou Dan Lamso

Lebanese American University, Lebanon
Dr Samer Saab

Université de Djibouti, Djibouti
Dr Hassan Ali Barkad