Immersive Classrooms Launched to Kick Off National Apprenticeship Week

Around 200 �ڹϳ����� students came along to a series of lively workshops today to kick off National Apprenticeship Week 2024. The students were introduced to apprenticeships in �ڹϳ�����’s three brand new, state-of-the-art immersive classrooms, complete with virtual reality headsets, a huge pin-sharp playback screen, 85” interactive whiteboards, 85” monitors and responsive mood lighting. A multimedia presentation was simultaneously transmitted from Hammersmith and Fulham College’s immersive classroom to its equivalents at Ealing Green College and Southall Community College.

Matt Fawcett, Deputy Principal Planning, Partnerships & Projects, highlighted that the £400,000 project is just the beginning of the college’s commitment to revolutionising the entire learning environment. Matt said: “Through this technology, our students will be able to link, in real-time, to specialist environments worldwide, as well as our other colleges – allowing them to collaborate directly with experts in their field.”

Our students responded positively to the highly collaborative classroom and expressed keen enthusiasm to get started with the Meta Quest 2 all-in-one VR headsets available in each of the three rooms.

In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, teachers brought classes along to the informative sessions to gain insights into apprenticeships and the process of securing one. 

Steve Bishop, Director of Marketing and Student Recruitment, co-presenting at the event, explained that apprenticeships are essentially jobs with training, and with the new range of higher apprenticeships available, can be an alternative to university study.

Steve, who has achieved Level 4 and Level 5 apprenticeships, said: “An apprenticeship means that you are a paid employee, while you study for your qualifications – and your employer’s levy fund covers the cost of your training, so you do not incur the huge debts many university students do. As employers have worked together to design apprenticeships, you get the experience and knowledge that they want you to have, which can give you a competitive advantage.”

�ڹϳ����� has a strong history of apprenticeship training in a wide variety of sectors, working with employers of all sizes across London and beyond.