About
Cork College of FET Morrison’s Island Campus, nestled in the city centre, provides a range of courses across a variety of disciplines.
With the mission statement of “A pathway for every learner”, CCFET has strong connections with Higher Education and
Industry to ensure their students have the best opportunities for a successful future.
- Boosting students’ confidence in their communication skills through repeat practice in a risk-free, psychologically safe environment
- Enhancing employability outcomes by equipping students with essential soft skills
Once the VR headsets are on, students become fully immersed - it's like the outside world fades away.
Whether they're doing a job interview, or helping a patient in a healthcare setting, they're so focused on the experience, that it feels real. This makes Bodyswaps a powerful and engaging way to build soft skills.
Students really enjoy the experience and it builds their confidence.
Sandra McGrath
Deputy PrincipalDeployment
Self-directed learning
Alongside class deployments, students can also book individual sessions via the college’s “Jobs Hub” to work on their skills independently.
Flexibility is key
Bodyswaps is currently available on PCs in all computer rooms, and VR sessions take place in a large study hall which is bookable for teachers. Students are able to choose between PCs and Meta Quest headsets, depending on their needs and preferences.
Results
After one session of our Communicating in a Person-Centred Way: Getting to Know Each Individual module:- 81% of students would recommend Bodyswaps to their peers
- 81% of students identified areas to improve on their skills
- 84% of students increased their understanding of the topics discussed within the module
Advice
- Promote the formal recognition aspect of Bodyswaps’ digital badges - encourage them to add them as certifications to their LinkedIn profiles
- Start early in the academic year to maximise student engagement before assignment season begins
- Provide setup support for tutors, to teach them all they need to know about Bodyswaps so they can manage their learners themselves
Our Bodyswaps digital badges provide formal recognition of the essential soft skills our students can develop by engaging with the programme. Thus giving them a highly valuable competitive edge in the job market.
Maria Murphy
Guidance CounsellorFuture plans
As many of the students are on one-year courses, it’s crucial to reintroduce the Bodyswaps programme annually.
This year, the team is preparing a dynamic and highly visible launch in Semester 1 to generate strong interest and student engagement.
The team also plans to explore the capabilities of Bodyswaps’ AI roleplays.
