Meta has officially launched its ‘Meta for Education’ initiative, following a successful beta phase. This program aims to bring schools and educational institutions from around the globe into the world of virtual reality by providing Quest headsets and a suite of XR (extended reality) apps and tools focused on enhancing education.
Announced initially last April, Meta for Education offers educators a complete package to incorporate XR into their teaching. This includes Quest headsets, valuable subscriptions for XR management, and customized device features suitable for the educational environment. These tools are specifically developed to assist not just students, but also administrators and educators.
During its beta phase, Meta collaborated with higher education institutions in the U.S. and U.K. to fine-tune the platform. Educators involved in the program have reported that using virtual and mixed reality technologies significantly boosted student engagement and helped clarify complex subjects.
In a statement, Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs and former UK Deputy Prime Minister, emphasized the profound impact that immersive technology can have on education. “Throughout my career in politics and now in tech, enhancing the educational prospects for children has always been a priority,” Clegg noted. “Of all the tech advances I’ve observed at Meta, immersive technologies like VR and AR stand out due to their potential to revolutionize learning. With Meta for Education, I hope we can simplify the process of acquiring and applying new skills for students, create a sense of presence with peers and teachers, and provide access to experiences that would otherwise be out of reach. Ultimately, I aim for this to enable teachers to focus on what they excel at—teaching.”
Meta gathered data from 43 schools within the Inspired Education Group, which already employs immersive technology with teenagers. The results were promising, with 87% of students feeling more enthusiastic about their lessons and 85% of teachers recognizing the value of virtual and mixed reality in enhancing teaching. Additionally, students showed a 15% improvement in their scores on multiple-choice assessments.
Following the beta phase, Meta has forged partnerships with prestigious institutions like Arizona State University, Imperial College London, and the University of Miami, integrating VR into their academic programs. Moreover, Meta and VictoryXR have created over 30 “metaversities,” using the Engage XR platform to develop digital twin campuses designed for remote student interaction. These virtual campuses are accessible to students at universities such as The University of Leeds in the UK, University of the Basque Country in Spain, and University of Hannover in Germany.
Educators interested in exploring the Meta for Education program can visit its website for more information. There’s a contact form available for applicants from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
