Teaching Business Process Automation in a Learning Factory

Business Process Automation (BPA) requires diverse technical, methodological, social, and personal competences. Project-Based and Problem-Based Learning can support acquiring these skills by having student teams develop automation solutions in projects. However, challenges like integrating automation into enterprise landscapes are often missing due to simplified project settings at university. This Scholarship of Teaching and Learning project explores using learning factories to create more complex, realistic settings, enhancing students’ competencies. A learning factory was integrated into existing teaching, and preliminary evaluations with interviews and pilot tests highlight benefits and limitations for educators.