Transforming Education Through the World’s Largest XR Initiative
Highlights
- RTC Antwerpen partnered with VirtualSpeech to deliver immersive VR-based training to 150,000 students across 690 schools in Flanders.
- Students practice essential skills like public speaking, debating, and job interview techniques in realistic, interactive scenarios.
- The initiative leverages cutting-edge VR and AI technologies to create engaging, accessible learning experiences.
Customer Introduction
The Regional Technological Center (RTC) in Flanders is dedicated to advancing education by integrating innovative technologies across 690 schools. By focusing on skill-building initiatives, RTC aims to prepare students for the demands of the modern workforce, enhancing both personal and professional development through pioneering learning solutions.
The Goal
Developing strong communication and interpersonal skills is essential for students as they grow and prepare for new challenges. RTC Antwerpen recognized the need for a modern, engaging approach to cultivating these abilities and set out to create an XR-powered initiative on an unprecedented scale. Their goal was clear: to provide over 150,000 students with hands-on, immersive training that builds confidence and competence in key areas, empowering them to succeed in academic and personal pursuits.
The Solution
To bring this vision to life, RTC Antwerpen partnered with VirtualSpeech to deliver immersive VR-based soft skills training. Powered by generative AI avatars, these realistic practice scenarios provide students with a unique opportunity to develop skills in critical areas such as:
- Public Speaking: Building the confidence to present effectively in any environment.
- Job Interview Practice: Helping students prepare for the job search process.
- Debating and Communication: Developing clear, persuasive, and effective dialogue.
This collaboration allows students to practice these essential skills in a safe and controlled virtual environment that replicates real-world scenarios. With flexible, on-demand access to VR modules, students can receive learning experiences tailored uniquely to each individual. Repeated practice no longer needs to be scheduled with a teacher or coach ahead of time and can fit in with their schedules, ensuring accessibility for everyone.
Results and Benefits
Since the program’s launch, students across Flanders have reported significant improvements in their soft skills, thanks to the engaging VR learning. Key benefits include:
- Skill Development: The immersive VR scenarios allow students to practice repeatedly in a psychologically safe environment, building real-world capabilities that can transfer into their daily lives.
- Confidence Boost: Students gain resilience and self-assurance as they navigate realistic scenarios, which are crucial for both personal and professional growth.
- Personalized Learning: The program adapts to each student’s individual needs, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to provide tailored, impactful learning experiences for every student.
- Time Savings for Teachers: The AI feedback saves teachers hundreds of hours of manually providing students feedback. This enables teachers to focus on other critical aspects of education while still providing students with valuable insights.
Additional Comments
"Our schools are very excited about using VirtualSpeech because it provides students with a safe space to practice public speaking and other essential skills. Usually, students are quite nervous when they have to present in front of other classmates so having software to practice, make mistakes, and improve without being made fun of by other students is a great advantage to them and their learning."
Louise Paepe - Consultant at RTC Antwerpen