<< Background >>The project BioFoodVirLabs is aimed at supporting digital capabilities by development and promoting of new forms of remote and distance learning focused on higher education in the field of biology, biotechnology and food science based on mutual cooperation of participating universities: Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra (SUA), Mendel University in Brno (MU) in Czech Republic, the University of Debrecen (UD) in Hungary and Pedagogical University of Krakow (UP) in Poland. Addressing the digital transformation through the development of digital preparedness, resilience and capacity is essential given the priorities set in the context of the ongoing digital transformation of the economy and society under the influence of innovative technologies and the global megatrends of the digital age. The digital transformation brings primarily a societal and not just a technological challenge that affects all citizens in Europe. The aim of the project is to develop and use digital technologies, practices, new methods and approaches to learning and teaching through virtual laboratories to improve higher education and optimize their contribution to the economic, social and environmental growth of countries with an emphasis on sustainable development. That is why the strategic goal of the state is to approach the topic of digitization of the higher education conceptually and to apply the supra-ministerial principle in order to significantly advance the digital transformation in Europe by new learning and teaching methods and approaches. The project builds on the experiences obtained during the outbreak COVID-19 pandemic. The massive transformation from face-to-face forms to completely online and distance learning forms was observed, however digital readiness, resilience and capacity have not been on such level allowing seamless transition. Although initial responses of higher education institutions were in change of their traditional curriculums to fit an online environment, the transitioning contents to an online learning environment is not enough. Innovative virtual forms in higher education became of high interest and importance. Along with transformation of theoretical lectures, where the transition towards online was less problematic, especially courses based on practical experimental work or on learning the technological processes were endangered due to pandemic restrictions and state of readiness to transformation of face-to form towards online and distance learning. However, one year experiences helped to transform many courses, practical education presents still the challenge for innovation in learning and teaching. The stimulation of the innovations is involved in the aims of the project. We propose the approach based on the conceptualization of virtual labs in three scientific areas and preparation of the background for creation these virtual labs. The horizontal priority addressing digital transformation through development of digital readiness, resilience and capacity is involved in the project as a whole. In the initial steps, identification of the teaching materials of different forms and their collection by all participating partners will be made. Creation of digital materials, their collection and exchange/mediation among the partners within the join virtual platform present the development of digital readiness for demand of such teaching materials. The digital platform will provide continuity in access to teachers and students deals with a digital resilience and capacity. Both teachers/students and educational institutions face numerous difficulties associated to access to technology, quality of online learning, and available infrastructure. The project takes into account the legitimate issues and goes beyond short-term solutions towards potential solutions in virtual labs preparation to minimize these problems faced by higher education.<< Objectives >>Common practice in the tertiary education is nowadays significantly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new approaches present an opportunity window in educational process. Especially those connected with remote and distance learning, since the various restrictions affected teaching and learning process in courses and practical training, as well as in international mobilities. Innovations in tertiary education are shifted mostly towards searching for the novel use of digital and information-communication technologies to cover the gaps that appeared. Transformation of education meets barriers in practical vocational courses/trainings. In this context a significant improvement over the classical teaching approaches in agricultural and life science education can be found in developments in Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technologies. Virtual labs, as a kind of virtual reality, present an interesting form of modern digital technologies. Those advantages are breaking down the barriers of time and distance while maintaining a research-based learning approach. Promotion of remote laboratories makes available biological, biotechnological and technological processes and enhances experiment based on learning in higher education in digital way. The main objective of the project BioFoodVirLabs is fostering in higher education by development and promoting of new forms of remote and distance learning, new learning and teaching methods and approaches focused on vocational higher education in the field of biology, biotechnology and food sciences. The following 4 sub-objectives of the project are needed to meet the priority objective: (1) a survey and comparison learning and teaching methods and approaches, using information and communication technologies in the teaching process at the partner universities; (2) suggestion of innovative on-line forms of education, learning and teaching methods and approaches; (3) creation of digital materials, their collection and exchange/mediation among the partners within the virtual platform; (4) concept of common practical training and laboratory courses using modern digital technologies by virtual labs.The opportunity to learn from the transformation of education is a need that was brought by pandemic. The result is in reflection in development and use of novel approaches, reactions and discovering of best practices in tertiary education process. The project outcomes (virtual labs proposed) have to deal with the following challenges and needs to be fulfilled with the project solving: (1) reflection on current situation in the field of vocational education; (2) a need of safe environment to build up experience in vocational studies; (3) minimization of time and geographical limitations to make it accessible for a wide audience; (4) environment to build up soft skills for new generation; (5) inclusiveness – involvement of disabled students and their specific requirements.<< Implementation >>The design of the concept of virtual labs of the presented project will ensure key interdisciplinarity and summarization of theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of biology, biotechnology and food sciences, which will be distributed by modern technology to other educational areas, which fundamentally innovates the current educational environment. Emphasis will be placed on achieving an international quality educational-practical process with an essential link to research and innovation. The aim of establishing virtual labs at the university environment is to support the professional and personal progress of the graduate, the development of key theoretical and practical competencies of the graduate, the development of critical thinking or progressive stimulation of research and innovation at university conditions. A significant added value is the quality preparation of the graduate for a future career with the assumption of easier application and higher competitiveness on the European and global market. The design of the concept of educational, practical and innovative activities, which will be an integral part of the virtual labs, will be created thanks to the cooperative activity of the universities of Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. The acquired theoretical knowledge and scientific experiences of the institutions involved will be shared, assuming that the ideas and experiences of renowned foreign experts in the field of education and research will ensure the emergence of a quality international platform virtual labs. The concept itself will consist of internationally recognized study materials, methodological procedures, proven laboratory tasks, practical demonstrations, demonstration videos or interactive presentations, which will provide graduates with specific competencies, including the ability to design experiments, formulate goals and hypotheses or the ability to correct statistical evaluation and draw exact conclusions. An integral part is the development of creative thinking, the development of self-solving skills and especially foreign networking in the field of food science, biotechnology and biology. We are convinced that the concept of virtual labs will significantly increase the interest of future domestic or foreign graduates about the educational and practical process at partner universities.<< Results >>Expected results are summarised as follows: (1) Concept of 3 virtual labs – Biology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, (2) Libraries of virtual labs: library resources, scientific methodologies, multimedia materials, inquiry-based learning activities, interactive objects, video and audio tutorials, virtual experiments, interactive learning activities, (3) Evaluation of outputs – the result of testing of collected materials will deal with: Promoting of joint research and educational activities within the international framework as a priority area with the use of the modern on-line education methods, Exchange of knowledge, experiences, good practice in the research process, Learning new approaches – personal communication, consulting with experts, Questionnaires on materials and their usability (interactive presentation software), Joint scientific publications - preparation of publications, Possible kick-off for preparation of joint projects in future. The project results will be in accordance with the main and partial aims focused on promoting the connection of theoretical knowledge and practice by applying innovative methodological procedures. The project enhances the internationalization of common teaching materials with innovative remote and distance technologies and materials which promote the international scientific knowledge and knowledge of involved institutions. This concept will include a summary of key areas in biology, biotechnology and food science for the successful and quality security of education and the creation of an educational environment in higher education.