Gateshead College has teamed up with Europe’s first virtual reality centre of excellence to launch a new skills programme that helps firms capitalise on the commercial power of emerging technologies.
The Level 3 programme in Virtual and Augmented Reality – the first of its kind in the UK – has been developed with Gateshead-based VRTGO Labs and aims to equip people with the skills needed to thrive in this growing industry.
Established last year by Gateshead Council, VRTGO Labs is a growing cluster of around 30 like-minded firms that work together to develop commercial applications for emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI).
The programme will see students use game engines, 3D tools and other state-of-the-art technologies to develop content that can be placed into a virtual world to solve everyday problems, such as helping doctors to make a diagnosis without the need for invasive procedures or surgery. Students will also create augmented reality content – a combination of the virtual and real worlds – to benefit companies across a wide range of industry sectors.
Chris Toon, deputy principal at Gateshead College, said: “Our flexible courses at Gateshead College are driven by and tailored to the needs of industry. We have a proven track record of developing the skills that benefit employers and help students get a job.”
VRTGO Labs spokesperson Carri Cunliffe, says: “VR and AR are not just useful for the entertainment industry, they are useful for many other sectors including automotive, offshore energy and construction.
“Companies are already gaining a competitive advantage by embedding VR and AR into their business but they will need new skills as these technologies evolve. The programme we’ve developed with Gateshead College is designed to address current skills gaps and is also flexible enough to be adapted to suit the future needs of this vitally important sector.”
For more information about the programme, call 0191 490 2246 or email start@gateshead.ac.uk. To find out more about Gateshead College and the business courses on offer, visit www.gateshead.ac.uk.