Traditional learning methodologies based on passive transmission of information, fail to develop a set of competences that students require for their professional life and their relation with the surrounding Society. Therefore, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are required to modernize their pedagogical methodologies, moving into active learning processes whereby students engage in activities that promote higher order learning skills like analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Project and Problem-based learning (PBL) are active and learner-centred methodologies in which students develop their knowledge and competences by following a problem solving process, usually based on real-life situations. The identified benefits for engineering and technology students are considerable improvements in critical, lateral and creative thinking, problem solving strategies, intrinsic motivation, group collaboration, communication skills, entrepreneurship and integration with the society. Supporting active learning through ICT tools (virtual social communities, games and VR/AR simulations) creates Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) where the new technologically-savvy generation of students feels comfortable. The objective of the ALIEN (Active Learning In ENgineering education) project is thus to design, implement and validate an active learning methodology based on PBL (Project/Problem) environments addressing real-life issues related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts. The methodology will be supported by a VLE including a set of digital tools that will allow students to experiment, collaborate and communicate in an extended and multinational learning community that will also include other stakeholders like teachers and researchers.ALIEN’s expected impact includes the institutional strategical adoption of active learning as the primary pedagogical approach to education.