Shelly and the Technical University of Sofia Bring Professional Smart Automation Technologies into Engineering Education
An interactive Shelly automation wall equipped with 21 devices gives students hands-on experience in energy monitoring, intelligent control and building automation
Shelly Group and the Department of Electrical Apparatus at the Technical University of Sofia have joined forces to bring professional smart technologies into engineering education. On 5 November 2026, the partners officially presented a specially designed Shelly automation wall and functional demonstration setups installed in one of the university’s teaching laboratories. The new interactive environment will enable students to explore real-world applications of smart control, automation, energy efficiency, security and remote management of electrical systems and appliances.
The installation initially features 21 Shelly devices, most of them from the professional Shelly PRO range, provided free of charge by Shelly Group for educational purposes.
Through the installation, students can explore different aspects of the Shelly ecosystem, from electricity measurement and energy monitoring to automated lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as the control of doors, windows, blinds, gates and other systems. Beyond observing how the devices work, they can configure them, build automation scenarios, take measurements and test different applications as part of their practical training.
Professional technologies for real-world applications
Most of the devices selected for the installation belong to the Shelly PRO series, reflecting the professional focus of the educational program. Designed for a broad range of electrical installations, these solutions support electrical panel mounting, energy measurement, load control and integration with professional automation systems.
The setup includes devices such as Shelly PRO 3EM-120 for three-phase energy monitoring, Shelly PRO 1PM and Shelly PRO 4PM for electrical load control and measurement, and Shelly PRO Dual Cover / Shutter PM for the automation of blinds and other motorised mechanisms. Lighting applications are represented by Shelly PRO Dimmer 2PM, Shelly PRO RGBWW PM and Shelly PRO Dimmer 0/1-10V PM. The installation also features Shelly PRO Circuit Breakers and additional modules for sensor connectivity, LoRa communication and Modbus integration via RS485.
From practical exercises to professional skills
The interactive wall allows students to work on a variety of practical scenarios. These include monitoring the energy consumption of individual electrical circuits, automating lighting based on predefined conditions, combining energy measurement with load control, and developing dimming and RGB/RGBW lighting configurations.
Using sensors and communication modules, students can also explore more complex applications, such as activating electrical loads based on sensor data or exchanging information between Shelly devices and other automation systems. These exercises help them progress from configuring individual devices to designing and analysing complete automation scenarios – skills relevant to future careers in electrical engineering, system design, integration and installation.
The installation will support the education of students from several university faculties, including the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, the Faculty of French Engineering Education, the Faculty of German Engineering Education and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
“For us, this partnership is an opportunity to put real smart technologies into the hands of future electrical engineers while they are still studying. We designed the Shelly automation wall and demonstration setups to encourage students to experiment, solve real engineering and installation challenges, and gain practical experience that will be valuable as they begin their professional careers. It is particularly important that they will work with devices and architectures like those they will encounter in residential, commercial, industrial and professional installations.”
Dimitar Dimitrov, CEO and Co-founder of Shelly Group
“Modern electrical engineering education needs to connect theoretical knowledge with real engineering applications. Giving students the opportunity to work with actual devices, build circuits, take measurements, control and analyze the behavior of a real system is an important part of their preparation. The Shelly automation wall creates opportunities for experimentation and practical assignments that provide a solid foundation for future student projects.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Yosko Balabozov, Deputy Head of the Department of Electrical Apparatus, Technical University of Sofia
A long-term commitment to technical education
The partnership with the Technical University of Sofia is the first project within Shelly’s longer-term CSR programme dedicated to supporting technical education and developing future engineering talent in Bulgaria.
Building on this initiative, Shelly plans to establish further partnerships with higher technical education institutions across the country, as well as with technology-focused secondary schools, involving students in their final year of study. The programme aims to give young people access to professional technologies and practical learning opportunities before they enter the workforce, while strengthening the connection between education and the technology industry.
