VET VR ACADEMY is an Erasmus Plus project that emerged as an innovative response to the considerable challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis on vocational education and training. Due to the restrictions and closures imposed by the pandemic, many sectors, especially the hospitality and catering sectors, experienced significant disruptions. Thousands of young trainees were unable to complete their professional internships, thereby compromising their training. It is in this context that VET VR ACADEMY took shape, with the aim of providing a concrete solution through e-learning and virtual reality methods.

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Objectives

The primary objective of VET VR ACADEMY aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The project sought to promote digital tools in vocational education and training (VET), strengthen digital training capacities, and enhance the attractiveness of VET through innovative and flexible methods. In particular, it aimed to address the new learning needs in the hospitality sector post-Covid-19 by developing an adapted educational framework and digital tools for VET schools and trainers.

European Consortium

The consortium of VET VR ACADEMY was composed of several partners with unique expertise. Pistes-Solidaires managed the overall project coordination, while Synthesis, Pistes-Solidaires, LudusXR, and Wisamar coordinated the development of the project’s main deliverables. Together, they worked on the design and creation of each component of the project, ranging from the educational framework to the e-learning platform, and including the virtual reality environments and impact study.

Concrete Achievements

The consortium developed a comprehensive educational framework that includes three distinct learning paths available in English, French, Spanish, German, and Greek. These paths cover essential areas such as interpersonal relations, job-specific knowledge, and technical skills.

Within this framework, thirteen e-learning modules were created and integrated into these paths, offering flexible and accessible training to learners. These modules are accompanied by quizzes.

One of the major innovations of the project was the development of six virtual reality environments, available for free on the Meta Quest platform. These immersive environments cover practical aspects of hospitality and catering, such as hygiene, cleaning, table service, mixology, preparing flambéed crêpes, and accessibility for people with specific needs. They were designed to provide a realistic and engaging learning experience, allowing learners to develop practical skills in a secure virtual environment. The trailer below gives a first glimpse of these environments.

All these tools were tested during a European training session held in October 2023 in Barcelona, at ESHOB. This mobility was very enriching and achieved its dual objective: not only testing the tools but also fostering exchanges between professionals who might not have met otherwise, leading to new strategies and projects.

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At the end of the project, an impact study and a pedagogical guide were developed, offering concrete recommendations and practical advice based on the project’s pilot experience. All these elements are downloadable from the project’s website.

Impact and Dissemination

The VET VR ACADEMY project had a significant impact at several levels. Learners benefited from innovative and interactive training, making their learning more attractive and relevant to the current labor market. Trainers developed their technical and pedagogical skills, and vocational training institutions modernized their teaching methods through the integration of digital tools and virtual reality.

The project also generated considerable interest within the educational and professional community, with dissemination events organized in France, Spain, Germany, and Cyprus, reaching a wide and diverse audience of professionals from both the hospitality and vocational training sectors.

VET VR ACADEMY not only addressed the immediate challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic but also laid the foundations for a sustainable digital transformation in vocational education and training. The tools developed, combining e-learning and virtual reality, have enhanced the attractiveness of these trainings and prepared learners for the current demands of the labor market. Through close collaboration between partners and effective use of digital platforms, the project ensured wide dissemination and lasting impact of its results. VET VR ACADEMY thus represents an inspiring example of how technological innovation can transform education and training to meet the needs of the 21st century.

Project website: www.vetvracademy.eu

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Lien YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U98sbHjoMYo