Bringing Industry to the Classroom: Expert Conferences Connecting Students with Digital Twin Innovation
Best practices Bringing Industry to the Classroom: Expert Conferences Connecting Students with Digital Twin Innovation Users: Training providers (public) | Training providers (private) | Theme: Industry engagement | Action: Education programmes/courses | Beneficiaries: Training providers (public) | Training providers (private) | SMEs | Industry | Learners (non-STEM background) | Learners (STEM background) DIGITWIN4CIUE – Digital Twins for Complex Infrastructures and Urban Ecosystems DIGITWIN4CIUE Beatriz Martin Bautista Cerro Rocío López Espinosa Digital twins represent a rapidly growing field in the built environment. Their adoption by private and public sectors highlights the need for professionals who understand both the technical and strategic value these tools bring to infrastructure planning, design, construction, and operation. To meet this need, the European project DIGITWIN4CIUE aims to “foster collaboration: build a culture of cooperation between academia and industry to drive innovation and develop sustainable, efficient construction practices”. This vision is realised through the Entrepreneurship Pillar of its Centre of Excellence, which promotes initiatives bridging academic knowledge and professional innovation. A flagship action is the Executive Master’s in Digital Twins for Infrastructures and Cities, a specialised programme for professionals and engineers in civil engineering, smart cities, and related fields. It offers training in advanced digital technologies, preparing participants to design, implement, and manage innovative solutions across the infrastructure lifecycle. This academic offer meets labour market needs and supports ongoing professional development, helping organisations stay at the forefront of technological progress. The challenge? In an increasingly competitive environment, with a growing academic offering and rapid technological advancement, prospective students are becoming more discerning in their choice of programmes. Attracting top talent is therefore a strategic priority for the success and sustainability of the DIGITWIN4CIUE project, and an opportunity to strengthen its position as a leader in innovation and digitalisation in the infrastructure sector. This situation posed a challenge during the design of the master’s programme. The aim was to ensure it stood out by combining high-quality education with the practical application of cutting-edge technologies, while aligning with the real needs of the labour market. At the same time, a key question emerged: how can we attract students by offering a programme that is up-to-date, dynamic, and aligned with scientific and technological innovation? Our solution As a response to the identified challenge, the Executive Master’s in Digital Twins for Infrastructures and Cities established the Conference Cycle: a series of public sessions led by global experts that go beyond the conventional applications of digital twins. These events delve into real-world use cases across a variety of sectors—including structural assessment of infrastructures (such as buildings, bridges, tunnels, and dams), transport and mobility, the construction industry, hydrology, and energy. The sessions provide valuable insights into how digital twins can improve asset maintenance, enable data-driven decision-making, and increase resource efficiency. The conferences are held on a biweekly basis, in both virtual and in-person formats, across the five partner universities delivering the master’s programme. Through this initiative, students benefit from continuous exposure to industry leaders, researchers, and professionals, allowing them to: Engage directly with key stakeholders in the field; Gain up-to-date knowledge on the latest developments in digital twin technologies; Participate in discussions that bridge academic learning with real-world industry demands. Outcomes This initiative has successfully created a dynamic learning and knowledge-transfer environment by bringing master’s students into direct contact with leading voices in the field. The Conference Cycle has featured guest speakers from renowned institutions such as the University of Colorado Boulder (USA), Technische Universität Dresden and Universität der Bundeswehr München (Germany), and Edinburgh Napier University (United Kingdom), as well as from prominent companies and organisations including ARUP, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), AdvaNet Hungary, SENER, and Bentley Systems, among others. As a result, the master’s programme has gained increasing international visibility. This is evidenced by the significant growth of our communication and outreach channels – driven largely by the Conference Cycle – with over 3,000 followers on LinkedIn and approximately 10,000 views on YouTube. Notably, more than 80% of prospective students now discover the programme through one of these two key platforms. The initiative has also fostered a learning environment centred on continuous development, where students are encouraged to engage in meaningful knowledge exchange beyond formal assessments, driven by curiosity, critical thinking, and professional ambition. In addition, the in-person sessions of the Conference Cycle provide valuable networking opportunities, enabling students to connect directly with guest speakers during dedicated engagement moments. These face-to-face interactions are essential for building professional networks, exploring career trajectories, and stimulating future collaborations within the fast-evolving digital twin ecosystem. Key takeaways Schedule integration within academic hours: Embedding Conference Cycle sessions within the master’s regular timetable ensures consistent student attendance and reinforces their value as an essential component of the learning experience. Bridge between industry and academia: Favor direct interaction with industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers aligns academic learning with real-world market needs, enhancing students’ readiness for professional challenges and supporting their career development. Include student’s participation at the Conference Cycle: Include student’s participation directly at the Conference help students to keep themselves highly motivated and disciplined throughout the course. Learn more here
Bringing Industry to the Classroom: Expert Conferences Connecting Students with Digital Twin Innovation
Best practices Bringing Industry to the Classroom: Expert Conferences Connecting Students with Digital Twin Innovation Users: SMEs, Training providers (public), Training providers (private), Industry | Theme: Indsustry Engagement | Action: Education programmes/courses | Beneficiaries: SMEs | Labour force (employed) DIGITWIN4CIUEDIGITWIN4CIUE Beatriz Martin Bautista Cerro DIGITWIN4CIUE, through the European Center of Excellence in Digitalization of Infrastructures and Cities, offers an Executive Master’s in Digital Twins for Infrastructures and Cities. This program features a flexible academic structure, attracting professionals from various disciplines in the built environment industry.Designed for professionals and engineers passionate about digital transformation in civil engineering, smart cities, and related fields, our program provides comprehensive training in key digital technologies for digital twins in infrastructures. It equips participants with the ability to conceive and develop digital twins to tackle specific challenges in infrastructure planning, design, construction, operation, and management, while also fostering the skills needed to identify business opportunities arising from digital twin technology.The Joint Institutional Executive Master diploma is issued by three of Europe’s top engineering universities: UPM (Spain), ENPC (France), BME (Hungary) and ITU (Turkey). The challenge? How can we ensure that students not only learn about Digital Twins in class but also engage with cutting-edge innovation, industry advancements, and real-world applications?Creating direct connections between students, researchers, and professionals is key to fostering career opportunities, expanding networks, and shaping a future-ready workforce. Our solution To bridge this gap, we established a structured series of expert-led conferences throughout the academic year. These sessions take place every two weeks in both online and in-person formats and are hosted across the five partner universities delivering the master’s program.Through this initiative, students benefit from continuous exposure to industry leaders, researchers, and professionals, allowing them to:• Engage directly with key players in the field• Gain insights into the latest advancements in Digital Twin technology• Participate in discussions that link academic learning with real industry needs Outcomes This initiative fosters a growth-focused learning environment, where students exchange knowledge beyond exams and assessments—driven by curiosity and professional development.Additionally, the in-person conferences enhance networking opportunities, giving students the chance to interact first-hand with guest speakers during dedicated networking sessions. These moments are crucial for establishing connections, exploring career paths, and sparking future collaborations in the rapidly evolving Digital Twin ecosystem. Key takeaways ‘Structured & Recurring Industry Engagement: Organizing expert-led conferences every two weeks ensures continuous exposure to industry leaders and real-world applications, keeping students engaged with cutting-edge advancements.Bridging Academia & Industry: Direct interaction with industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers aligns academic learning with market needs, enhancing career readiness and professional development.Networking & Career Development: Dedicated networking sessions provide students with valuable opportunities to connect with professionals, explore career paths, and foster collaborations in the Digital Twin ecosystem. Learn more here