The Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO), belonging to the FUNIBER network of universities, has received the official notification from the Spanish Service for the Internationalization of Education (SEPIE), which confirms the highly satisfactory evaluation and the positive closure of the Erasmus+ E+DIETing_LAB – Digital Lab for Education in Dietetics combining Experiential Learning and Community Service project. With an overall score of 86/100, the report recognizes the outstanding quality of the work developed and its educational and social impact.
Educational Innovation with European impact
The SEPIE underlines that E+DIETing_LAB has responded in an exemplary manner to the priorities of the Erasmus+ program regarding digitalization, sustainability, and social inclusion, consolidating itself as a benchmark in the modernization of dietetics university education. The project has developed three main results:
- Virtual Patient, a tool based on artificial intelligence to simulate clinical interviews and improve students’ communication skills.
- Virtual Clinic, a supervised practice environment with more than 40 real cases that allows the application of the Nutrition Care Process.
- Multiplier Toolkit, a set of methodological guides, templates, and teaching materials available as open educational resources.
The evaluation reveals significant improvements in student learning, highlighting advances in self-efficacy, clinical reasoning, and digital competencies.
A Strong and Collaborative Consortium
UNEATLANTICO has led an international consortium composed of institutions from Spain, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, and Poland, developing a cohesive and results-oriented cooperation.
In addition, a network of 16 associated entities, including FUNIBER, participated in the validation and dissemination of the results, extending the model’s impact and transfer in Europe.
Institutional and Social Projection
The impact of the project has been remarkable both in the partner institutions and in their environment. E+DIETing_LAB has promoted new teaching methodologies based on simulation and service-learning, in addition to promoting community actions aimed at healthy eating habits and food sustainability.
Its digital reach–more than 45,000 visits to the website and social networks–highlights the growing visibility of the project and its European recognition in the field of digital health education.
Strategic Continuity: Connection with the MAHINE Project
The success of E+DIETing_LAB reinforces FUNIBER’s commitment to teaching innovation and digitization of health sciences education, laying the groundwork for complementary initiatives such as the “Simulation based training and digital technologies combined with service-learning approach for experiential and reflective learning in nutrition and dietetic education (MAHINE)” project, with which it shares objectives in educational simulation, learning based on emerging technologies, and strengthening of European cooperation networks.
MAHINE will develop new tools to improve the practical training of nutritionists in higher education institutions in Angola. With the help of chatbots, students will be able to improve their skills with repeated practice of interactions with virtual patients, contextualized in the nutritional reality in Angola.
E+DIETing_LAB is thus established as a reference model that continues to project itself through new strategic actions aligned with university innovation and scientific progress in the European higher education area.