Kick-Off Conference of the XR2ACH Project: Shaping the Future of Digital Learning in Refrigeration Technology

The XR2ACH project, part of the nationwide InnoVET-Plus competition funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ) and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), held its kick-off event on January 31, 2025. The event was kindly hosted by Bitzer at the Schaufler Academy. It brought together experts from academia, industry, and vocational education to discuss the project goals and explore the opportunities of digital learning in refrigeration technology through XR (Extended Reality).

Participants included representatives from the project consortium as well as external partners, among them: Bitzer Schaufler Academy, the Handwerkskammer Reutlingen (Chamber of Crafts Reutlingen), the Landesinnung Kälte-Klima-Technik (State Guild of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology), Ritter Energie, TWK – Test- und Weiterbildungszentrum Wärmepumpen und Kältetechnik GmbH (Test and Training Center for Heat Pumps and Refrigeration Technology), and the Viessmann Academy.

Project Presentation and Goals

The conference began with an introduction to the project by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robin Langebach from Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. He presented the main objective: the development of a comprehensive digital platform for delivering XR-based learning modules in vocational training.

Project partners shared their experiences from previous research projects examining the added value of VR and AR technologies in education, application examples for refrigeration and HVAC technology, and gamified didactic approaches. Technical and practical challenges were also discussed, with an emphasis on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Vocational Training in Refrigeration Technology — Current Status and Potential

Representatives from the Baden-Württemberg Guild of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology provided a detailed insight into the current state of vocational training in refrigeration and heat pump technology. After an introduction to the German system of initial vocational training, special attention was given to the inter-company apprentice training courses (Überbetriebliche Lehrunterweisungen, abbreviated ÜLU), which are organized by the Bundesfachschule Kälte-Klima-Technik (Federal Vocational School for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology) on behalf of the guild.

These ÜLU courses, lasting between 40 and 80 hours, teach essential skills to all trainees in the industry and focus on areas such as connection techniques, environmental protection, electrical and control technology, and heat pump technology. The ÜLU was therefore identified as an ideal application field for immersive learning offerings, maximizing the impact and added value of XR-supported vocational training in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.

Practical Experiences and Workshops

The event concluded with demonstrations of various VR and AR projects, giving participants firsthand impressions of immersive learning. This was followed by an intensive group workshop to identify and categorize relevant use cases.

Key Topics and Outcomes

Identifying industry challenges. Participants discussed common issues in refrigeration training, including difficulties during practical exams — such as adjusting pressure switches or using leak detection devices — and exam anxiety, which could be reduced through XR-supported practice scenarios.

Defining concrete XR use cases. In a joint brainstorming session, practice-oriented XR applications were identified: Virtual Reality (VR) for practical skills such as soldering, leak detection, or refrigerant recovery; Augmented Reality (AR) for support, such as interactive AR manuals for system operation; 3D visualizations, including XR-based sectional views of modern refrigeration compressors for better technical understanding; and multi-user scenarios enabling virtual instructor-apprentice interactions to foster collaborative learning.

Standardization and scientific accuracy. Participants stressed the importance of consistent standards in XR environments, especially for visualizations of refrigerant flow and thermodynamic processes, and for accurate representation of prohibited actions and safety risks in simulations.

Expanding learning opportunities through XR/AR. Finally, the potential of XR/AR was highlighted to enhance learning beyond traditional instruction — compensating for limited hands-on practice time in ÜLU courses, enabling self-directed learning in individual practice scenarios, and promoting a balanced relationship between digital and practical skills.

The kick-off event successfully brought stakeholders together, created momentum for cooperation, and developed concrete, realistic directions for the project. A shared vision emerged to introduce sustainable XR-based learning modules that enable meaningful improvements and radical innovation in vocational education for refrigeration and air conditioning technology.

Based on the inputs and coordination from the kick-off meeting, the following next steps were defined and initiated: submission of use cases by project partners, including provision of CAD data; visits to the training centers at TWK in Karlsruhe and the Bundesfachschule Kälte-Klima-Technik in Leonberg; analysis of targeted learning modules and associated didactic plans; development of initial prototypes, feasibility analyses, and design of the technical software architecture; and formal coordination of the project advisory board.