Global.Labs

Laboratories have traditionally served as centers for learning, innovation, and collaboration at universities. However, these learning environments are undergoing a fundamental transformation: clearly defined, standardized experiments are increasingly being replaced by open, complex learning environments that realistically reflect real-world challenges from industry and society. In these environments, students work in teams on interdisciplinary, interconnected challenges, developing subject-specific, methodological, and social skills.

These open learning spaces continue to evolve dynamically, driven by new challenges, technologies, and forms of collaboration. As a result, modern laboratories are emerging as “knowledge hubs”: interdisciplinary and international learning environments where students, faculty, and researchers collaborate with companies and organizations to generate, reflect on, and apply knowledge.

With Global.Labs – a subproject of the THWS.Global initiative funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the HAW.International program (funding reference number 5782 5650)—two central operational objectives are pursued:

    1. International, collaborative use of learning environments 
Cross-border collaboration in complex learning environments, supported by a high-performance, immersive infrastructure, as exemplified by the SimCar environment at the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) and Tiger Motors at Auburn University (USA).

    2. Development of knowledge hubs in real-world contexts 
The design and operation of complex learning environments through close collaboration between universities, companies, and organizations, creating shared innovation spaces that are jointly developed and utilized.