Meta’s ‘Quest for Education’ Program Launches, Introducing VR to Classrooms

Meta has officially launched its ‘Meta for Education’ initiative, moving out of the beta phase and opening the doors for schools and universities globally to integrate Quest headsets and a range of educational XR (extended reality) applications and tools into their learning environments.

Originally unveiled last April, Meta for Education provides a holistic package for educators eager to incorporate XR into their teaching methods. This package offers Quest headsets, XR management solution subscriptions with classroom-friendly features, and an array of apps and tools designed specifically for administrators, teachers, and students.

During its beta testing phase, Meta collaborated with various colleges in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Through this partnership, they refined the platform based on feedback from educators who noted that virtual and augmented reality significantly boosted student engagement and helped clarify complex topics.

Nick Clegg, who serves as Meta’s President of Global Affairs and is a former UK Deputy Prime Minister, is a strong advocate for the potential of immersive technologies in education. He emphasizes how these technologies can open up new learning experiences that transcend traditional classroom boundaries.

Clegg elaborates, “I’ve always been passionate about enhancing educational opportunities for children. Among the many tech innovations I’ve seen at Meta, virtual and augmented reality have stood out for me, particularly because of their potential to revolutionize learning. With Meta for Education, I envision a future where students can learn, practice, and apply new skills in immersive environments, engage closely with peers and teachers, and explore scenarios they couldn’t otherwise access. But above all, I hope it empowers teachers to do what they excel at—teaching.”

According to Meta, feedback from 43 schools within the Inspired Education Group that already utilize immersive technologies showed impressive results: 87% of students felt more engaged with their lessons, and 85% of teachers found these technologies to be effective in enriching their teaching methods. There was also a noticeable 15% increase in students’ academic performance on multiple-choice assessments.

The program’s full-scale launch comes alongside several partnerships with prestigious institutions like Arizona State University, Imperial College London, and the University of Miami, all of which are working to embed VR into their educational programs.

Meta, in collaboration with VictoryXR, has also pioneered over 30 “metaversities” via the Engage XR platform, creating digital twin campuses to facilitate virtual interactions between students. These virtual campuses are now accessible to students from places like The University of Leeds in the UK, the University of the Basque Country in Spain, and the University of Hannover in Germany.

Educators curious about Meta for Education can delve deeper into the details on the program’s website. It includes contact information for potential applicants in countries such as Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.