VIRTUAL REALITY SET TO BRING COLLEGE EXPERIENCE TO LIFE IN SCHOOLS

Caption: Image of a sewing room for a fashion class through a 360 virtual video

Pupils in Warwickshire and Leicestershire are set to benefit from innovative virtual reality technology that will enable them to step inside two college campuses without leaving their schools. North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) has worked with Tamworth-based digital innovation business Dev Clever to create 360° virtual video tours of its Hinckley and Wigston campuses.

The technology will enable pupils in local schools to enjoy a rich and immersive experience of campus life, explore college facilities and engage with current students at a number of touchpoints throughout their tour. NWSLC plans to take two hi-tech VR headsets into schools and will also have 500 cardboard viewers to giveaway for young people to try at home.

At the college’s creative arts Hinckley Campus, students will be able to tour the facilities and look inside its range of industry-standard studios for graphics, photography, and performing arts. They will see an extensive learning and resource centre and recently launched florist’s outlet, Creative Blooms, which is run by floristry students and open to the public.

The Wigston Campus experience highlights the building’s light and spacious atrium, hairdressing and beauty salons, construction and engineering workshops and extensive learning resources for computing, IT, media.

Anita Ladva-Cheung, Marketing and Communications Manager for NWSLC said, “We’re excited to announce the rollout of our VR project which will enable pupils to experience what college life could hold even if they are unable to attend in person. Using the VR headsets will recreate the experience and allow them to walk through our campuses and imagine their lives as students.

“Virtual reality has become much more mainstream during the pandemic with lockdown preventing us from access to physical locations. We are keen to bring the latest technology to prospective students’ experiences of college as they make decisions about their next steps at the age of 16. In addition, we are running regular virtual open events on our website that enable them to engage with tutors, ask questions and find out more about career options.”

The VR headsets will be taken into schools this spring as part of the college’s schools liaison outreach programme. The next NWSLC virtual open event is on Wednesday 17 March 2021 and registrations are open now.