Virtual reality project shortlisted for a prestigious international award
A Victoria University of Wellington project on experiential learning using virtual reality (VR) is in the running for a global award for sustainability education.
Led by Dr Christian Schott of the School of Management, the research-driven project has been shortlisted in the Reimagine Education awards, out of 1150 submissions. The awards recognise the most innovative higher education and technology projects around the world and are held in San Francisco in late November.
The project is a virtual field trip for students of sustainable tourism, enabling them to understand the realities of life and sustainability challenges in different locations without the emissions-producing plane trip.
Working with Maciu Raivoka from the University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning, Alan Proctor-Thomson (Burnt Pixel), Naele Toqitoqi (herald or spokesperson of a Fijian village), as well as the University’s Dr Stephen Marshall and Jonathan Flutey, Dr Schott has utilised VR to replicate an island in Fiji in the throes of sustainability challenges and interest by tourism developers.
The project has already received international attention and Dr Schott has spoken to a conference of the world’s leading business schools about the innovation.
He says he’s delighted to be shortlisted for a Reimagine Education award.
“The shortlisting is very exciting as it validates the innovation’s pedagogical underpinnings and broader purpose. Through continuous formal and informal research we have been able to refine both the educational approach and latest VR technology to balance learning about sustainability with cultural sensitivity to the local context.”