CrossLab - Flexibly combinable cross-reality labs in higher education: future-oriented competence development for learning and working 4.0
Digital laboratory elements such as remote labs, virtual laboratory environments or simulations, which are summarized under the collective term cross-reality labs (CrossLabs), have proven their performance and flexibility not only in the current pandemic situation. Although the potential for cross-university use is obvious, the solutions remain isolated at the university level. Rigid implementations that are geared to individual didactic objectives prevent use from within the context of another university - there is a lack of interoperability. Complex systems remain reserved for a limited group of users.
Accordingly, the CrossLab project aims to define the didactic, technical and organizational solutions for open digital laboratory objects that can be combined across universities in a learning environment for student-centered teaching according to need. In this way, it is not the teaching that is adapted to the digital laboratory, but rather the laboratory that can be adapted to the requirements of the instructional situation.
For the implementation, the joint project integrates the competences of the partners Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Technische Universität Dortmund and the NORDAKADEMIE University of Applied Sciences in Elmshorn and Hamburg. The project builds on existing digital laboratories in different subject areas. This creates an open teaching and learning system for students that can be flexibly adapted to their needs.
The TU Dortmund University is initially involved in the collaborative project with three partners:
- Chair of Organizational Studies and Management of Continuing Education at the Center for Higher Education (zhb.), (subproject leader: Prof. Dr. Uwe Wilkesmann, researcher: Dipl.-Päd. Claudius Terkowsky; coordinator for digital teaching at the TU Dortmund: Dipl.-Ing. Tobias R. Ortelt)
- Engineering Education at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (Prof. Dr. Tobias Haertel; N.N.)
- Laboratory of Equipment Sesign at the Faculty of Bio- and Chemical Engineering (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Norbert Kockmann, Dr.-Ing. Konrad Boettcher)
The project consortium also cooperates closely with Labsland, the world's first startup for remote laboratories in teaching, based in Bilbao (Spain) and St. Louis (USA), as well as the Community Working Group for Remote Laboratories in Germany.
Current information can be found on the project webpage.
Project period: 01.08.2021 to 31.07.24

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Location & approach
The campus of TU Dortmund University is located close to interstate junction Dortmund West, where the Sauerlandlinie A 45 (Frankfurt-Dortmund) crosses the Ruhrschnellweg B 1 / A 40. The best interstate exit to take from A 45 is “Dortmund-Eichlinghofen” (closer to South Campus), and from B 1 / A 40 “Dortmund-Dorstfeld” (closer to North Campus). Signs for the university are located at both exits. Also, there is a new exit before you pass over the B 1-bridge leading into Dortmund.
To get from North Campus to South Campus by car, there is the connection via Vogelpothsweg/Baroper Straße. We recommend you leave your car on one of the parking lots at North Campus and use the H-Bahn (suspended monorail system), which conveniently connects the two campuses.
TU Dortmund University has its own train station (“Dortmund Universität”). From there, suburban trains (S-Bahn) leave for Dortmund main station (“Dortmund Hauptbahnhof”) and Düsseldorf main station via the “Düsseldorf Airport Train Station” (take S-Bahn number 1, which leaves every 15 or 30 minutes). The university is easily reached from Bochum, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr and Duisburg.
You can also take the bus or subway train from Dortmund city to the university: From Dortmund main station, you can take any train bound for the Station “Stadtgarten”, usually lines U41, U45, U 47 and U49. At “Stadtgarten” you switch trains and get on line U42 towards “Hombruch”. Look out for the Station “An der Palmweide”. From the bus stop just across the road, busses bound for TU Dortmund University leave every ten minutes (445, 447 and 462). Another option is to take the subway routes U41, U45, U47 and U49 from Dortmund main station to the stop “Dortmund Kampstraße”. From there, take U43 or U44 to the stop “Dortmund Wittener Straße”. Switch to bus line 447 and get off at “Dortmund Universität S”.
The AirportExpress is a fast and convenient means of transport from Dortmund Airport (DTM) to Dortmund Central Station, taking you there in little more than 20 minutes. From Dortmund Central Station, you can continue to the university campus by interurban railway (S-Bahn). A larger range of international flight connections is offered at Düsseldorf Airport (DUS), which is about 60 kilometres away and can be directly reached by S-Bahn from the university station.
The H-Bahn is one of the hallmarks of TU Dortmund University. There are two stations on North Campus. One (“Dortmund Universität S”) is directly located at the suburban train stop, which connects the university directly with the city of Dortmund and the rest of the Ruhr Area. Also from this station, there are connections to the “Technologiepark” and (via South Campus) Eichlinghofen. The other station is located at the dining hall at North Campus and offers a direct connection to South Campus every five minutes.
The facilities of TU Dortmund University are spread over two campuses, the larger Campus North and the smaller Campus South. Additionally, some areas of the university are located in the adjacent “Technologiepark”.
Site Map of TU Dortmund University (Second Page in English).
Interactive map
The facilities of TU Dortmund University are spread over two campuses, the larger Campus North and the smaller Campus South. Additionally, some areas of the university are located in the adjacent "Technologiepark".
