We are proud to announce that the HECOF project’s research has been published in the prestigious journal Education and Information Technologies (Springer) under the title: “HECOF: An Innovative VR Technology Program for Training Chemical Engineering Students – NTUA Case Study.”
Authors and Institutions
This collaborative publication brings together expertise from both academia and industry:
From the School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA, Athens, Greece: Maria Karoglou, Marina Stramarkou, Cristos Boukouvalas & Magdalini Krokida
From Nuromedia GmbH, Cologne, Germany: Holger Kürten, Christian Tismer & Jason Horn
About the Study
The publication presents the design, development, and evaluation of an innovative Virtual Reality (VR) training program implemented within the HECOF (Higher Education Class of the Future) Erasmus+ project. The study focuses on the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and showcases how immersive VR environments can enhance learning outcomes in chemical engineering education.
Students at NTUA’s School of Chemical Engineering participated in a virtual lab experiment on the extraction of phenolic compounds from olive leaves — a task that blends realistic lab operations with digital interactivity. The paper combines both quantitative data (learning analytics, performance metrics) and qualitative feedback (student reflections and engagement) to evaluate the effectiveness of the approach.
Collaboration Behind the Research
This publication reflects the close collaboration between NTUA and NUROMEDIA GmbH, who jointly developed and tested the HECOF VR platform. Their combined expertise in education, engineering, and immersive technologies demonstrates how academic–industry partnerships can successfully push the boundaries of digital learning innovation.
Why It Matters
The findings highlight the growing potential of VR-based learning in higher education — especially in laboratory-intensive disciplines such as chemical engineering. By offering safe, accessible, and highly engaging environments, VR can complement or even transform traditional laboratory training.
The HECOF initiative continues to explore ways to integrate adaptive learning, AI-driven feedback, and immersive simulations into university curricula across Europe, supporting a more inclusive and future-ready educational experience.
Read More
The full article is available through Springer: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-025-13805-0