Galway Technical Institute has taken an exciting step into the future of healthcare and childcare education through its piloting of the VRCare virtualreality learning scenarios. As part of the Erasmus+ KA220 project, GTI students, healthcare professionals, and childcare practitioners had the opportunity to step inside immersive, ethically grounded VR environments that transform how complex care situations are taught and understood.
For many participants, this was their first-ever experience using VR—and the impact was immediate. Learners described the moment they shifted from watching a scenario to being inside it, navigating conversations, making decisions, and responding to realtime challenges in childcare and elderlycare settings.
GTI’s pilot included scenarios focused on communication, dignity, ethical decisionmaking, and personcentred care, along with wellbeingfocused experiences such as reminiscence therapy and sensory engagement. These VR sessions offered something traditional classrooms cannot: “a safe space to practise, make mistakes, reflect, and try again—without realworld consequences”.
Learners consistently highlighted how this boosted their confidence before entering real care environments.
What makes the VRCare project especially powerful is its collaborative design. GTI educators, students, and care practitioners contributed directly to shaping and refining the scenarios, ensuring they reflect authentic care settings and real ethical dilemmas. Feedback from participants across Europe—including GTI’s own pilot groups—continues to guide the next phase of development, with even more interactive and dynamic scenarios planned for late 2026.
GTI’s involvement demonstrates how immersive technology can enrich learning, strengthen practical skills, and prepare future care professionals with confidence and compassion. The message from participants was clear: they want more scenarios, more practice, and more integration of VR into everyday learning.
VRCare is not just a project; it’s a glimpse into the future of education in healthcare and childcare—and GTI is proud to be at the forefront of that innovation.
