Immersive Education Working Group Report - Recommendations to Government, 2024

During 2024, 42 participants from across a broad stakeholder spectrum (Education institutions,
Technology providers, non-profit organisations and research institutions) collaborated within the
Immersive Education Working Group through a number of workshops facilitated by Eirmersive. This
report outlines their recommendations for Irish Government to support educators in implementing
immersive learning technologies. The objective of this report is to further formalise a consultative
approach to defining a strategy for Digital Education that includes Immersive education with
Government agencies, industry and community leaders.
The Working Group was composed of a diverse range of stakeholders as depicted from two
perspectives in the diagram (figure A) below, and illuminated throughout this report in case study
Information Boxes (further expanded in Appendix A), that outline success for the impact of
Immersive learning in the early adopter phase whilst planning for further scaled up
implementations.
Education (15) Industry (12)
1 Charity
4 ETBs
9 Universities
1 Post Primary
10 Founders
2 Organisations
Business and Tourism
Creative Digital Media
Healthcare
Education and Career Development
Youth Training Services
Technology and Computer Science
Figure A - Composition and Balance of the Working Group
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Immersive education, particularly through the use of technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and
Augmented Reality (AR), has gained significant traction in Ireland as an innovative approach to
enhance learning experiences, in alleviating lab constraints and accessing critical resources and
space. This novel educational model allows students to engage in interactive, experiential learning
environments that transcend traditional classroom boundaries. By immersing learners in realistic
scenarios, they can develop critical skills such as problem-solving, empathy, and collaboration.
Research indicates that immersive technologies can lead to a deeper understanding of complex
subjects, making learning more engaging and effective (Makransky et al, 2021, Ryan et al, 2022 and
Hamilton et al, 2021).
Furthermore, immersive education promotes inclusivity by catering to diverse learning preferences,
thus moving towards more equitable access to quality education, a priority of our Sustainable
Development Goals strategy (ESD to 2030 report1).
The working group, set up through Eirmersive, has identified a number of recommendations. This
document gives a sneak preview that highlights the urgency, opportunity and pragmatic approach
to setting a National Strategy in relation to Immersive education that integrates with Education
policies across multiple Government departments. The implementation and mobilisation of this
strategy is already underway in a fragmented but enthusiastic model, where funding for digital
transformation leads to initiatives that meet the relevant criterion and ambition of trailblazers in
Digital Education and technology.
Such is the success of the many projects that brings us to this space, whereby the scaling up,
collaboration and integration of infrastructure, hardware, software, skills, knowledge,
competencies, pilots and case studies mean that the feasibility of implementation across Ireland is
now a tangible reality.
This collaborative approach will foster innovation and inclusivity, ultimately enhancing the
educational landscape in Ireland. The evidence demonstrates the benefits that leveraging
immersive learning would generate; enhanced engagement, improved retention, safe learning
environments, skill development, diverse needs (adopting UDL principles) and global collaboration.
Key Findings, Actions, and Recommendations are summarised and highlighted next, with details to
follow in the body of this report.