This paper aims to analyze the requirements and leading aspects to be considered in the design of virtual labs for engineering courses. We propose a framework to meet the requirements of virtual lab activities, integrating didactic and research purposes with the Digital Twin as enabling technology. The framework is the result of the analysis of the technical aspects of using immersive technologies as Extended Reality, together with the experiences collected from interviews and pilot testing in workshops with students, teachers, and lab managers of three institutions implementing the virtual lab concept. The results of this study are part of the Erasmus+ Virtual Labs for Digital Engineering Education (VirLaDEE) project, developing interconnected digital twins of physical engineering labs for quality and inclusive engineering education through state-of-the-art virtual technologies.
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