Visions of the future: How VR and AR are revolutionizing educational consulting!

Visions of the future: How VR and AR are revolutionizing educational consulting!

On June 7, 2025, a remarkable workshop took place at the Federal Employment Agency University (HdBA) Mannheim, led by Prof. Dr. Dennis Mocgemba was directed. 24 representatives of employment agencies from Saxony, Berlin and Brandenburg discussed the integration of virtual reality (VR) into consulting practice. The focus was on the different application scenarios that are possible with this technology in the consulting context. Prof. Dr. Mocgemba opened the event with a keynote speech on “mediatization of educational and career guidance,” which encouraged participants to develop new ideas.

The participants worked in small groups on concepts to incorporate VR into their consultations. Both the opportunities and limitations of this technology were discussed. HdBA students, Lea Landwehr and Tim Walter, presented the results of their projects and demonstrated various usage scenarios that illustrate the potential of VR in career counseling. The meeting encouraged participants to think about innovative approaches.

Collaboration and future prospects

Prof. Dr. Peer Schmidt, Vice President for Studies and Teaching at the BTU, emphasized the great future potential of the collaboration between the university and the employment agencies. In particular, the integration of digital media into advice can offer significant added value, according to Thomas Poppel, career advice team leader at the Cottbus Employment Agency. The exchange and discussions during the workshop were rated as extremely positive.

The Federal Employment Agency University and the BTU are already planning further joint events to continue developments in advisory formats. The integration of immersive technologies could not only improve the quality of training, but also change the way consultations take place.

Innovative approaches in the educational landscape

Echoing the push for VR in career guidance, other educational institutions are also showing progress with virtual and augmented reality. An example of this is the Erkelenz vocational college, where tailor-made AR and VR applications are developed. Educator Christoph Mones reported on the advantages of these technologies in teaching, which promote active learning and make complex concepts clear.

Innovative projects such as the interactive VR exploration of a gearbox or the AR animation of a wind turbine are also being realized. These technologies not only increase student engagement and motivation, but also help develop creative problem-solving skills.

The challenges in developing AR and VR content in-house often lie in the technical knowledge and resources required. In order to meet these challenges, further training for teachers and cooperation with other educational institutions are necessary. A collective approach with support programs could facilitate the deployment of such technologies in schools.

Market development and future of AR and VR

The market for VR and AR applications is constantly developing, including in the education sector. More and more apps are appearing that aim to make lessons emotionally engaging. However, the availability of freely licensed applications is limited, which means there is a risk that educational offerings will be used to collect data. Nevertheless, many companies such as Google and BBC already offer interesting AR and VR content that can enrich lessons.

Creating a technology-driven future requires innovative approaches. Students should be given the opportunity to design their own VR and AR content. Providing tools like CoSpacesEDU and Reality Composer could help foster learners' creativity and actively engage them in the learning process.

In summary, it can be said that both the event at the HdBA and the ongoing innovations in educational institutions such as the Erkelenz vocational college are exemplary of a change in education that is placing modern technologies at the center. These developments could have significant implications for future career guidance and education as a whole.