A 30-day journey to conquer virtual reality and AR/VR/MR technology of UEH students in Rome, Italy

From August 1 to 30, 2023, 15 students and 01 lecturer from the School of Media Design (SMD) at UEH College of Technology and Design, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (CTD) participated in the course "Application of virtual reality and augmented reality in design" in Rome, Italy. This is the first short-term technology course within the framework of cooperation between the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) and the Pantheon Institute of Technology and Design (Italy). The students learned the most modern AR/VR/MR technology that is interesting and useful and had unforgettable experiences in the Capital of Light of Europe.

In the current 4.0 era, Virtual Reality - VR is opening up unlimited potential and has a huge impact on the direction of many industries. As major technology companies listed as Google, Facebook and Apple continuously invest in AR/VR/MR, it is confirmed that these technology experiences will continue to grow in the future and to become a top trend in the world.

Grasping this trend, the SMD under CTD has cooperated with the Pantheon Institute of Design and Technology, Italy to organize the course "Application of Virtual Reality Technology and Augmented Virtual Reality in Design" for students who are passionate in technology and aim to pursue future global trends.

The goal of the course was to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively apply virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology in the field of design and other related fields. In addition, the course helped students integrate VR and AR into the design process, from creating 3D models to presenting design ideas and testing products.

UEH student delegation and lecturers experienced a 30-day technology course in Italy

During the journey throughout August 2023, the program's learning activities mainly took place at the Pantheon Institute of Technology and Design Headquarter near the Vatican - Rome. The program began with an introduction to the application of virtual reality technology in design by Prof. Andrea Giansanti - Lecturer at Pantheon Institute of Technology and Design. The professor introduced and instructed on the necessary software to create an AR/VR product and how to apply it in the process of creating a practical technology product. After that, students of the course participated in practice and experienced virtual reality games with modern support equipment provided by the Pantheon Institute. The experience mainly focused on how users interact with the product so that they can focus on interaction points for the creation of their own products.

Students discussed with lecturers during a class session in Italy

These group activities and discussion sessions with instructors from Italy was a great opportunity for students to gain more knowledge and experience in exploring this new technology trend. Students can also discover more interesting knowledge and life skills in Italy with useful advice from the experience of native teachers. This cross-cultural and localized international teaching and networking activity has emphasized on engaging and expanding international relations.

At the end of the course, UEH students were able to create AR/VR game products with practical applications from the software they learned thanks to the dedicated instructions of the instructors. Pantheon Design Institute instructors reviewed, tested, and evaluated the product.

Instructors awarding course certificates to each student. This certificate bringing many benefits to the current major of the students participating in the course.

The curriculum created conditions for students to not only master knowledge of virtual reality technology and augmented reality (AR/VR/MR), but also expand their cultural understanding through visiting famous art museums (Vatican Museum, Louvre Museum, Versailles Palace, etc.) and meeting with Pope Francesco.

Students visiting museums and exhibitions in Italy on the weekend

Feeling regarding the one-month journey with the technology application course in Italy, Mr. Dinh Tien Minh - Head of Marketing - UEH School of International Business - Marketing shared: "The past month has been a great experience. This time I learned and updated a lot of new knowledge about technology. When participating in this course, we realize how small we are when there are so many design technology software with different uses and applications. Besides, when learning, I myself and my fellow students all learned from each other to get the best results. If there are upcoming courses, my advice is that you should attend them because you will learn a lot and have many memorable experiences."

Nguyen Thanh Son - UEH Alumni - one of the students of the course expressed: "My appreciation to the School and Teachers for giving us the opportunity to study and have fun. Taking this trip is generally beneficial! The teachers and students are all lovely, kind and wholeheartedly helping and supporting each other throughout a month in Europe with so many memories. The products Son makes in the future no matter what will carry the memories about everyone.”

[Video clip of students' feelings after the course]

AR/VR/MR technology is developing very quickly, and mastering this technology can help practitioners make a difference in the future. The 30-day journey of conquering AR/VR/MR technology of UEH students in Rome, Italy ended with unforgettable impressions and opened a new horizon of technology applications into the practice of students. Besides, the program nurtured and connected communities interested in this technology to develop and expand together in the future. Hopefully, the upcoming technology courses will receive the attention and participation of many students and bring interesting and memorable experiences.

Pantheon Institute of Design and Technology - founded in 1969, headquartered next to the Vatican, Rome. The school has more than 50 years of experience and is currently a quality undergraduate and postgraduate educational institution under the AFAM Academies recognized by the Ministry of Education, University and Research MIUR - Italy.

News and photos: UEH College of Technology and Design