Oshawa, Hamilton schools to get virtual reality soft skills training thanks to Meta grant
Published January 27, 2023 at 12:22 pm
British virtual reality start-up Bodyswaps is delivering soft skills training tools for their technology to more than 100 schools around the world – including Durham College and Trent University in Oshawa and Mohawk College and McMaster University in Hamilton – thanks to a grant from Meta, the tech giant formerly known as Facebook.
The 106 colleges and universities who will participate in London-based Bodyswaps’ Immersive Learning Pilot Program will receive access to virtual reality hardware and software with a three-month unlimited access to the company’s full soft skills learning library. Meta will support with hardware donations of Meta Quest 2 VR headsets.
The program aims to allow wider access to immersive learning technologies in education and supports students with gaining the necessary soft skills needed to compete and stand out in a global job market.
A variety of courses will be available to the grantees, including modules on diversity and inclusion, public speaking and employability training, to empower their students with soft skill development that might have been hindered as a result of the pandemic.
“Immersive technologies represent an immense opportunity to improve education for traditionally underserved populations,” said Bodyswaps CEO and co-founder Christopher Mallet, who added that VR technologies are starting to redefine higher education globally. “This grant, the largest of its kind ever, will demonstrate the impact VR learning can have at scale and show the way for a more human-centric and equalitarian future for education.”
Videos
The grant will double up as a research project led by Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, leveraging data collected from students and staff, to demonstrate the potential impact of metaverse technologies in education.
The Meta Immersive Learning grant is part of Meta’s pledge to invest $150 million to help develop the next generation of metaverse creators, fund high quality immersive experiences that can transform the way we learn and increase access to learning through technology.
“We are excited to see more education institutions embrace the potential of immersive technologies. Bodyswaps are providing transformative opportunities for educators and learners alike,” said Leticia Jauregui, the Global Head of Meta Immersive Learning.
Bodyswaps is an award-winning virtual reality learning platform that brings realistic simulations and AI-enabled feedback to soft skills training. For more information, visit www.bodyswaps.co
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising