How Virtual Reality is Supporting Vocational Skills Development in Prison Education

Technology is creating new opportunities to make prison education more engaging, practical and relevant to the workplace. At Novus, we are exploring how virtual reality (VR) can support vocational skills development, helping people in prison build the knowledge, confidence and skills they need to progress towards employment. 

With support from Ufi VocTech Trust, an independent charity focused on unlocking the potential of technology to support adult learning, Novus has developed and piloted its first immersive vocational learning module. 

Focused on working safely at height in the construction industry, the project has explored how immersive technology can help bring workplace environments to life within a prison education setting. 

Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality in Prison Education 

Access to realistic workplace environments can be an important part of vocational education. However, recreating these environments within a secure setting can present practical challenges. 

The project explored how virtual reality could help overcome some of these challenges by giving learners the opportunity to experience realistic vocational environments digitally. 

As well as developing new learning content, the project aimed to build expertise within Novus in developing and delivering immersive learning. It also provided an opportunity to explore how technologies such as VR could be used more widely to support vocational education in prisons in the future. 

Bringing Construction Training to Life 

The first immersive learning module focused on working safely at height within the construction industry. 

Developed with subject matter experts, employer partners and technology specialists, the module combines real-world footage filmed at a scaffolding training centre with AI-generated 360-degree content. 

This creates an immersive learning experience that allows learners to explore realistic construction environments and develop their understanding of workplace health and safety. 

Using digital content in this way also helped address some of the practical challenges of filming in live construction settings, while retaining the authenticity needed to make the learning relevant to industry. 

For learners preparing to enter employment, being able to visualise a workplace and understand what they may encounter can help bridge the gap between the classroom and the world of work. 

Adapting Innovation to the Prison Environment 

Introducing new technology into a secure environment can present its own challenges, and the project required the Novus team to adapt its original plans. 

The initial scope included learning pathways covering both construction and warehousing. However, approval for VR headsets could not be secured within the project timeframe. 

Rather than stop the project, the team adapted its approach and focused on completing the construction module while identifying alternative ways to deliver the content to learners. 

The module was successfully piloted with Novus Cambria learners at HMP Berwyn using classroom technology and interactive whiteboards. 

This allowed Novus to test the learning resource in practice, gather feedback directly from learners and better understand how immersive digital content could be incorporated into prison education. 

Learners See the Value of Immersive Learning 

The learner feedback provided encouraging evidence of the potential of immersive technology to complement traditional approaches to vocational education. 

All ten learners who provided feedback said the experience helped them understand the topic better than pictures, worksheets or text-based learning alone. Nine out of ten said they would recommend this type of learning to other learners. 

Learners described the experience as: 

It's like you are there in person.

It showed what the work site would really be like.

Being immersed in the outside world.

Learners also suggested ways the experience could be developed further, including using VR headsets, introducing additional interactive activities and creating more immersive learning content. 

This feedback provides valuable insight into how digital learning can support engagement and help learners develop a stronger understanding of vocational environments. 

Developing Digital Skills and Expertise at Novus 

The project has not only created a new vocational learning resource. It has also helped Novus develop its own expertise in the use of immersive technology within prison education. 

Through the project, teams have gained experience in developing digital learning content, working with technology specialists and employer partners, and considering how innovative learning approaches can be adapted to meet the requirements of secure education environments. 

This learning will help inform Novus' continued exploration of digital innovation and its potential to support better learning and employment outcomes. 

Jayne Hill, National Digital Learning Team Manager at Novus, said: 

“This project has shown the exciting possibilities that virtual reality and immersive technology can bring to prison education. While we had to adapt our approach, the learner feedback demonstrates that innovative digital learning can help people better understand vocational environments and develop the knowledge, confidence and skills needed for employment. 

“The experience has also helped us build valuable expertise within Novus and provided important insights into how technology can support rehabilitation and progression. We are excited to continue exploring new ways to use digital innovation to enhance learning opportunities for the people we support.” 

The Future of Digital Learning in Prison Education 

The project represents an important step in exploring how virtual reality and immersive technology could support vocational education in prisons. 

While there are practical considerations when introducing new technology into secure environments, the early findings demonstrate the potential for immersive digital learning to make vocational training more engaging, relevant and connected to the workplace. 

For Novus, innovation is about more than introducing new technology. It is about finding effective ways to improve learning, respond to the needs of learners and help people develop the skills and confidence needed to progress. 

By bringing together education, employer insight and digital innovation, Novus will continue to explore new approaches to prison education that support rehabilitation, employability and positive futures. 

For more information and news on future digital projects, visit our new section.