Partners met in Rijeka, Croatia, for a Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTTA) to test the Mixed Reality modules developed by the TRAINEE project and to discuss how they can be used across higher education institutions.

On 6–7 October 2026, TRAINEE partners took part in a Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTTA) hosted by the University of Rijeka (UNIRI), Faculty of Engineering (RITEH).

During the activity, partners presented and tested the project's Mixed Reality (MR) training modules. Practical demonstrations, peer evaluation, and collaborative discussions gave participants the opportunity to exchange feedback and consider how the modules could be adapted for different higher education contexts.

A key focus was evaluating the modules using a shared framework and identifying good practices for their future implementation. Partners discussed how to make the learning experiences transferable and replicable, taking into account institutional needs, technical requirements, and curriculum structures. The activity also led to the selection of several study units for further case study analysis and implementation across partner institutions.

The LTTA supported the consortium's work to develop practical, adaptable MR learning experiences for engineering education. TRAINEE thanks the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Engineering, for hosting the activity and all partners for their active participation and valuable feedback.

The University of Malta TRAINEE team introduced visitors to mixed reality and engineering education through hands-on demonstrations and a presentation at Maker Faire Malta 2026.

From 2 to 4 October 2026, the University of Malta TRAINEE team took part in Maker Faire Malta at the Esplora Interactive Science Centre in Kalkara. Visitors to the TRAINEE stand could put on a headset and explore mixed reality robotics and automation scenarios, which form part of the digital training toolbox the project is developing for engineering education.

The demonstrations prompted questions about how virtual practice can prepare learners to work with real equipment, and how mixed reality can support safer, more accessible learning. For many visitors, this was their first experience with the technology.

The team also introduced younger audience members to immersive technologies during a presentation by Ing. Andrea Bondin. He explained the ideas behind immersive technology in an engaging, accessible way and presented TRAINEE's work to prepare the engineers of the future.

Joseph Paul Zammit, Andrea Bondin, Andrea Bezzina and Abdumhiman Shagruni guided visitors through the demonstrations throughout the event. Visitors' curiosity and enthusiasm made for three lively days.

The TRAINEE team thanks Esplora, Xjenza Malta and the Maker Faire Malta organisers for the opportunity to participate, and everyone who visited the stand or attended the presentation.

On June 17, Inġ. Andrea Bondin represented TRAINEE at the International XR Metaverse Conference (XRM 2026) in Tallinn, Estonia, where he presented the project's latest research on using mixed reality to transform how engineers learn to program industrial robots.

At the conference, our paper, "A Structured Mixed Reality Approach to Industrial Robot Programming Education", was presented. It demonstrated how a structured mixed reality methodology can make learning industrial robot programming more intuitive, hands-on, and accessible.

This event provided another excellent opportunity to share TRAINEE's vision with the extended reality community, exchange ideas with fellow researchers and practitioners, and gather valuable feedback to guide our next steps.

Together, we are shaping immersive, human-centric training for the next generation of engineering talent!

The TRAINEE project was presented at the 16th International Conference of the Lean Learning Academy, under the main topic "Simulations and Artificial Intelligence in Modern Industry", held on 29 May 2026 and hosted by Rzeszów University of Technology.

Dr Ing. Joseph Paul Zammit from the University of Malta represented the project, introducing the TRAINEE to an international audience of researchers, educators, and industry professionals.

The presentation covered the project's objectives, methodology, and progress to date, with particular emphasis on the use of Mixed Reality technologies to enhance engineering education and training in industrial manufacturing contexts. It highlighted how the TRAINEE consortium is developing innovative approaches that combine immersive technologies with pedagogically meaningful learning experiences.

The session offered an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss the potential of Mixed Reality to support the future of higher education and workforce development. Valuable discussions followed with participants from academia and industry, further emphasising the growing interest in immersive technologies for education and training.

Thanks were extended to the conference organisers and all participants who engaged with the TRAINEE project during the event.

The TRAINEE project was presented at the University of Malta Research Expo (UMRE 2026), held on 27 May 2026 in Valletta.

Andrea Bondin represented the project by publishing an abstract and delivering a presentation focused on the Mixed Reality Pedagogical Content Generating Framework, one of the TRAINEE project's core innovations.

The presentation highlighted how the framework supports the creation of Mixed Reality learning content for engineering education, aiming to make immersive educational materials more accessible, structured, and pedagogically meaningful.

The session encouraged discussion on the potential of Mixed Reality to support teaching and learning in higher education and to contribute to the development of innovative learning experiences.

Thanks were extended to the UMRE 2026 organisers and to all participants who engaged with the TRAINEE project during the event.

The TRAINEE multiplier event took place as part of the Ri-Comp 3.0 Conference on April 10, 2026, at the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Engineering. The event offered an opportunity to present ongoing work on integrating Mixed Reality (MR) technologies into engineering education.

The project was introduced during a session titled "AI and Immersive Technologies in Higher Education", where key objectives and results achieved to date were presented. The focus was on the practical and pedagogically meaningful use of MR in university-level teaching.

The conference, organized by the Riteh Web Team, brought together a diverse audience, including IT professionals, students, alumni, high school pupils, and their teachers. This provided a valuable setting for engaging with stakeholders across different educational levels.

Informal discussions during the event highlighted interest in applying MR in education and its potential to enhance learning experiences. The TRAINEE session contributed to raising awareness of the project and encouraging dialogue on the role of emerging technologies in modern engineering curricula.

Some key questions raised during the discussions included:

• How can emerging technologies shape teaching and learning?

The TRAINEE Project was presented at POLIFEST 2026, the largest technical education fair in Romania (March 26–28, 2026, Bucharest).

Live demonstrations showcased immersive learning scenarios, highlighting how Mixed Reality can support engineering education. Visitors experienced interactive environments, including simulations of a 3D printing workstation, where hands-on learning concepts were emphasized.

The demonstrations showed how immersive technologies can enhance student engagement and provide practical, experience-based learning opportunities aligned with the goals of the TRAINEE Project.

What do engineering students and mentors across Europe think about the future of their field and the role Mixed Reality (MR) could play in shaping it?

As part of the TRAINEE Erasmus+ Project initiative, we set out to explore this question.

We are pleased to announce that TRAINEE's first research paper has been officially published in the Elsevier conference proceedings:

"Rethinking Engineering Education in Light of Mixed Reality Opportunities – Results from a European Survey"

The TRAINEE project was presented at the 5th e-Learning Day at the University of Rijeka. The event focused on the theme “Digital maturity of higher education institutions: Is higher education responding to new challenges in society?”

During the poster session, the goals, specific objectives, and key ideas of the TRAINEE project were presented, highlighting how immersive technologies and well-designed digital learning can support teaching and learning as universities enhance their digital readiness.

A proud milestone for the TRAINEE project! The University of Malta team presented the first consortium research paper at the International Conference on Industry of the Future and Smart Manufacturing (ISM), sharing insights from a European survey on integrating mixed reality into engineering education.

The paper, Rethinking Engineering Education in Light of Mixed Reality Opportunities – Results from a European Survey, is based on stakeholder feedback gathered from engineering educators and students across Europe.

Key findings from this Europe-wide survey were shared, synergies between the perspectives of educators and students were identified, and a path forward with mixed reality as a promising solution was discussed. Presenting the research proved to be an enriching experience; the project was promoted, and valuable discussions and feedback were received from an academic audience that will shape the future outcomes of the work.

The University of Malta team proudly presented the TRAINEE project at the International Conference on Industry of the Future and Smart Manufacturing, held in Malta from 12 to 14 November 2025.

The project was showcased to an international audience of academics. During the presentation, the team shared TRAINEE's key milestones, highlighted current achievements, and outlined future plans.

The conference provided valuable global visibility for the project and offered an excellent opportunity to engage with the international academic community, enabling the team to gather insights that will help shape the next phase of the work.

We spent two productive days in Bucharest, hosted by our wonderful partners, Catalin and Theodora from CAMIS - POLITEHNICA Bucharest.

The meeting covered key ground, including:

• A comprehensive Roundtable of Partner Updates

At the Fourth International Conference on Innovations in Computing Research (ICR’25), held in London, UK (August 25–27, 2025), Sandi Ljubic from University of Rijeka actively contributed to the program through a paper presentation, session chairing, and by serving as a panelist in the panel discussion Emerging Trends in Computer Science and Computer Engineering Education.

Within the panel discussion, particular attention was given to the transformative role of Mixed Reality technologies in shaping the future of engineering education. Sandi Ljubic highlighted how ongoing efforts within the Erasmus+ TRAINEE project explore the integration of immersive technologies to enhance training, experiential learning, and innovation in curricula. Alongside this, the potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) was also addressed as a complementary technology supporting educational advancement.

The University of Malta team was proud to present the Trainee project at the Faculty of Engineering Exhibition, held from 20–22 June 2025.

It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the project to graduating students from the University of Malta, as well as to key stakeholders from the engineering community.

A big thank you to everyone who visited our stand and showed interest in our work!

As part of the Erasmus+ TRAINEE dissemination activities, the project was presented on the sidelines of the 48th ICT and Electronics Convention – MIPRO 2025, held in Opatija, Croatia.

Engaging conversations unfolded with participants interested in the use of Mixed Reality in engineering education, exploring ideas around immersive learning, training through simulation, and innovation in educational practice.

These informal exchanges contribute to shaping new perspectives on how immersive technologies can support skills development and experiential learning in line with the TRAINEE’s goals. 🚀

The TRAINEE project was proudly showcased at the Enterprise Europe Network - Malta Enterprise Innovation Conference on 9th April, 2025.

This event brought together key stakeholders focused on building a more sustainable and human-centric industry, making it the perfect platform to present TRAINEE’s mission of enhancing training for tomorrow’s workforce.

TRAINEE project had a fantastic and productive in-person kickoff last week (January 23rd & 24th). It was a pleasure to gather in Malta for the first in-person meeting with our esteemed consortium partners:

Last month, we had the pleasure of hosting the first online meeting to officially kick off TRAINEE – Advanced MR Training for Human-Centric Production Empowering Engineering Talent.

This project, funded by ERASMUS+, marks an exciting research journey focused on leveraging Mixed Reality (MR) technology to revolutionize engineering education and training.

🚀 A Milestone Achievement for Project TRAINEE!

We’re thrilled to announce that Project TRAINEE – Advanced MR Training for Human-Centric Production Empowering Engineering Talent has officially kicked off!