We’re reflecting on two inspiring and moving days at the Universitat de Girona, marking the 9th of 13 project meetings for the Open GLASSroom consortium. Glass moves us in many ways, and this meeting was no exception.
Day 1: Looking back while moving forward
On the first day, our progress meeting we did not just look back. It was about moving forward with bold new ideas. We discussed potential follow-up projects, such as integrating AI, broadening our network – particularly toward vocational training – and developing joint study programs. A key focus of the day was also the preparation for the first European Glass Design and Engineering MOOC, planned as a cross-university collaboration and hopefully set to launch at the end of 2025.
In the afternoon, we moved out of the meeting room and into the innovative world of Bellapart. Paula and Francesc Arbós welcomed us warmly and guided us through an impressive tour of their facilities. Watching glass researchers move by the workshops was a sight to behold – one consortium member captured it perfectly, saying they were “like little children in a candy shop.”
Day 2: Testing in motion
The second day saw us moving into a hands-on phase, testing the OER materials we’ve been developing. With the committed participation of students from fields such as architecture and structural mechanics, we gathered valuable feedback on our videos. To bring concepts to life, Faidra Oikonomopoulou, Telesilla Bristogianni, Francesco Fiorito, Angelica Rota, and Francesco Carlucci delivered short live lectures, demonstrating the ideas behind their recorded knowledge clips.
A huge thank-you to all the students who helped us with their feedback toward the next level of refinement for our Open GLASSroom materials.
Moving toward the future
As we move into the third year of the project, our focus shifts to developing supplementary OER materials that enhance our videos—tasks, case studies, and quizzes. By the end of 2025, we aim to launch the first European Glass Design and Engineering MOOC. There’s a long road ahead, but we’re ready to keep moving.
Special thanks to those who move us
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Daniel Trias Mansilla for coordinating these two eventful and seamlessly organized days. Jagoda Cupać also deserves special recognition for crafting the workshop concept and skillfully moderating the sessions.
A leadership transition: Passing the torch
After two years as project manager at TU Dresden and following her transition to TU Delft, Jagoda Cupać officially hands over the project management role to Aline Bergert (TU Dresden). Jagoda, your vision and drive have moved this project from concept to reality. Beyond initiating Open GLASSroom, your dedication – whether through “content hunting” or navigating administrative challenges – has been crucial for the project. We appreciate your eye for detail and your patience with which you have repeatedly led all project partners to fruitful discussions and high-quality content production results. We are glad about your decision to continue as content coordinator, ensuring Open GLASSroom keeps moving in the right direction.
Aline enriches the project with her expertise as an Educational Technologist. She brings experience in implementing Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Educational Practices (OEP) at German universities. Her research focuses on everyday teaching practices and digitalisation in Engineering Education. Importantly, Aline has been part of the Open GLASSroom vision and community since its inception, making her qualified to lead the next phase of the project.
What’s next?
Our journey continues in April/May 2024, when the Open GLASSroom consortium will move to the University of Rijeka. Until then, we’ll keep working hard to ensure the project’s momentum never slows.
