Background
Munster Technological University serves over 18,000 learners across 6 campuses across
Cork and Kerry, Ireland. At the heart of their partnership with Bodyswaps is their innovative and agile BEng in Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering; designed by the REEdI (Rethinking Engineering Education in Ireland) Project supported by the Irish Higher Education Authorities HCI Pillar 3 fund.
This project is centred around three pillars.
The Three Pillars
- Allowing students to pick their path through their studies,
- Sending students on two-year long work placements,
- And introducing immersive technologies into the curriculum.
Hans Moolman
Goals
- Gauge student reactions to immersive learning technology
- Validate the effectiveness of immersive learning compared to traditional methods
- Give students the opportunity to develop a well-rounded skillset - incorporating soft skills alongside their academic prowess
Deployment
VR Headsets
Each student on the REEdI degree is given a Meta Quest 2 headset to keep over the four years of their programme and utilise the software on it to develop their skills.Placement Preparation
Initially implemented to aid first year students develop public speaking skills, it’s now been integrated into the second year Professional Development core module to aid students with job interview skills ahead of applying to work placements with MTU’s industry partners
Dr. Cathal Geary
Future Plans
Due to the success of the REEdI Framework, MTU plans to roll out immersive learning for soft skill development to further programmes.