Information systems engineering is currently taught and practiced on code-level. This means that programmers codify all functionalities needed in an information system by hand. While there are approaches to automate programming they have not proven to be efficient or scalable. Domain-specific languages and problems add to this efficiency loss as terminology in i.e. health care and product engineering is very different and current approaches lack instruments to bridge this gap. In such an environment concepts and tools are needed who allow for: (a) a formal enough definition of domain specific languages in order to make them computer processable, (b) abstract enough to be able to be applied for different domains and help interaction of domains, (c) allow for designs and model representations who can be understood both by humans and computers, and (d) allow for algorithms and mechanisms to be run for analysis/simulation. META-MODELING meets the requirements above and provides the concepts necessary. In addition meta-modeling is also available in form of ICT-platforms, which means that problems cannot be solved only conceptually but solutions can be provided in tools applicable in information systems engineering environments. OBJECTIVES ADDRESSED The OMI project aims to modernize the way modeling tool engineering education is provided by supporting the learning and access to open educational resources in education via virtual laboratories. It aims to provide a best practice case for dissemination to support the awarness of European LLP. Through the topic addressed it will improve the competences and their relevance for the labor market by providing opportunities for learning mobility. PROJECT ACTIVITIES OMI aims to: • Develop and pilot test a concept for the implementation of virtual laboratories destined to modeling tool engineering based on the concept of meta-modeling directed towards education in Information Systems Engineering • Develop a competence profile for modeling tool engineers. In order to ensure relevance towards the needs of the labor market a working group involving the project partners, an international Scientific Advisory Board and two companies BOC Group – headquarters Austria – and HILTI Group - headquarters Liechtenstein, will be set up. • Populate the virtual laboratory with Open Educational Resources and tools (in the form of a common module) dealing with “Modeling Tool Engineering” using a blended learning approach. • Test, adapt and implement the materials in three consecutive intensive programs, each one to take place at the Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt (Austria) including the right mix of blended learning/personalized learning in the context of virtual laboratories • Pilot the concept and the materials in an Open Models Laboratory at the University of Vienna. TARGET GROUPS: HEIs, teachers and trainers, students METHODOLOGY The project will employ a collaborative working manner with all partners contributing in accordance to their competences to the project outputs. Stakeholders will be involved in the project whenever this is appropriate in the project. Communication will be continuously RESULTS The intellectual outputs foreseen in the project will produce the following tangible results: - 1 concept for the implementation of virtual laboratories for Modeling Tool Engineering; the concept will be available in 6 different languages - 1 module (Open Educational Resource), including teaching materials, exercises, software applications, covering: meta-modeling, application domains, law (open source/open use licensing), and entrepreneurship education tools and instrument. A total of 10 different teaching materials (i.e. corresponding to each part of the module) will be available both in print and in electronic version. Around 30 software tools (i.e. code and instrument) will be available for free use via the pilot of the virtual laboratory. - 1 pedagogical approach using blended/personalized learning - 3 ISPs each with 14 participating students and 10 participating teachers - 2 dissemination events; 1 with around 25 participants the other with around 100 participants - Dissemination materials (1 website, flyers in 6 languages – around 1.000 pcs, 100 posters, 1 white paper, 16 press releases, 5 published articles) In addition to the tangible results (as presented in the intellectual outputs, multiplier events and learning activities) the project will produce also intangible results like experience gain for all project participants in the collaboration with international consortia, the use of new pedagogical approaches as well as the strategic use of ICT for teaching and training purposes. POTENTIAL LONG TERM BENEFITS OMI hopes to introduce the concept of virtual laboratories for modeling tool engineering with use of open source/open use platforms and thus to lay the basis for cooperation space hosted by HEIs for all types of stakeholders.