A Melbourne-based company is helping students explore innovative career paths without the cost and logistical barriers associated with traditional school excursions.
Donning virtual reality headsets in schools across Melbourne, students are exploring more than digital landscapes – they’re investigating the future of their potential careers. Apsis VR is leading the way.
“Our state-of-the-art technology and expertly designed VR content which includes games, escape rooms and educational content ensure an unforgettable experience for students above the age of 10 and ideally suited for secondary students,” Apsis VR founder Mr Ajith Ratnarajah says.
Apsis VR is now bringing immersive technological experiences directly into school halls, transforming how students understand emerging career opportunities.
“We’re taking our VR venue to the school. Schools don’t need to build labs or organise excursions with complicated logistics. They just need to provide a hall, and we set up a complete VR operation for a day or even a week,” Mr Ratnarajah says.
The week-long VR events represent a comprehensive approach to learning. Students experience not just virtual environments, but guided discussions about technological innovation’s impact on future careers.
“We break classes into groups and ask them to consider how AI and VR might change particular jobs in the future,” Mr Ratnarajah explains.
What makes these sessions truly innovative is the immediate reflection process. “When they come out of the VR experience, they’re highly excited,” he says.
“We’re immediately channelling that excitement to focus on how these experiences might apply to their future lives.”
The results have been remarkable. Students have demonstrated extraordinary insights into potential technological applications. One student proposed using augmented reality and AI for medical diagnostics, suggesting that future technologies could analyse bodily symptoms with unprecedented precision.
Another student explored geological applications, imagining how future Google Earth technologies might provide rich information about soil structures. “I was surprised by what students have said,” Mr Ratnarajah says. “Sometimes they propose ideas we ourselves never considered.”
The mobile VR approach offers newfound flexibility for schools. Rather than organising costly excursions, schools can now access cutting-edge technology within their own facilities.
“We give schools an option where they can run through VR with hundreds of students during a week-long event,”
Mr Ratnarajah says. Crucially, the program goes beyond technological demonstration. It provides genuine career guidance.
“We talk about university courses, what universities are doing in VR and AI,” he says.
“We’re providing critical information, especially for students in Years 10 and 11 who are figuring out their future.”
The training component adds another layer of innovation. Apsis VR doesn’t just deliver a one-time experience but offers schools the opportunity to train their own IT staff.
“Initially, our Game Masters go to the schools to set up the VR in the hall, or allocated space,” Mr Ratnarajah says. “But we’re happy to train school IT personnel to administer the setup themselves.”
Students particularly appreciate the program’s forward-thinking approach. By combining immersive experiences with guided reflection, the sessions help students connect technological possibilities with their personal aspirations.
“The discussions afterwards are more beneficial than the VR experience itself. We’re helping students understand how they might apply these technologies in their future careers,” Mr Ratnarajah says.
The program covers diverse fields, from creative industries to scientific research. Students explore potential applications in medicine, geology, engineering, and beyond. “It’s about showing them that technology isn’t just about gaming,” he says.
For more information, call (03) 9088 6232, email info@apsisvr.com or visit https://melbourne.apsisvr.com/school-Program/
