IEEE PES sponsors a panel session in the summer povJer meeting in Seattle on laboratory education in power engineering. Six short and one full paper summarize the opinion of the panelist. This paper contains the summary two of the presentations. The objective of the panel is to discuss the roll of laboratory education in power engineering at both the graduate and undergraduate level. The question is what type of laboratory courses is needed? Power electronics, electric machines, system simulation, etc? The second objective is to assess the status and value of computer-based virtual laboratories. This includes the presentation of experience with virtual. laboratories and a list of available tools. The teaching of power system operations can be improved using a simulation laboratory. The available simulation tools and the assessment of their value will be an important topic of the panel. Last, but not least, the last presentation will give opposing views, arguing for the traditional laboratory use. This paper contains the summary two of the presentations.