Long Road Sixth Form College and Illumina launch LSIP-supported virtual reality project to inspire careers in Life Sciences
November 6, 2024
Long Road Sixth Form College has introduced an innovative virtual reality (VR) experience, funded by the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), to offer students a unique, immersive insight into careers within the life sciences industry.
Developed in partnership with leading genomics company Illumina, the project aims to bridge the gap in access to real-world experiences in highly restricted environments, such as hospitals and commercial laboratories, making it easier for students to envision and explore career paths in this essential sector.
Tariq Sadiq, Careers Employability and Skills Lead at Long Road, said,
“We know how difficult it is for young people to find work experience, particularly in restricted environments like hospitals or commercial laboratories, so we wanted to create an alternative way for them to do this.
“The Local Skills Improvement Plan report highlighted Life Sciences as an important sector for our region, so the purpose of these videos is to inspire young people about careers in those sectors by visiting healthcare and life sciences locations virtually. We have shared these videos with all schools in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Region through the Combined Authority Careers Hub so any student could see them at any time either through a VR headset or on a PC, phone, or tablet. They are easily accessible via our YouTube channel.”
The Illumina videos focus on the roles of bioinformation, software developer and lab scientist and feature members of staff talking about what they do, demonstrating a typical task and explaining routes into those careers.
Students can enter a 360-degree immersive environment using a VR headset that can look in every direction. They can also see text, labels, diagrams and animations to get a detailed picture of life science spaces and related careers with videos ranging from five to ten minutes long.
Hollie Church, Senior Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Specialist at Illumina, said,
“Creating access to equal opportunities is so vital and provides pathways for our future generations. Illumina is proud to collaborate with Long Road Sixth Form College to create VR immersive videos to inspire students and give them an insight into what it’s like to work for a global biotech company.”
The initiative underscores the impact of LSIP-driven collaborations between education and local employers. This partnership aims to provide an alternative pathway for students to gain this experience virtually, helping them build familiarity with workplaces they otherwise might not have access to.
Charlotte Horobin, CEO of the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce and employer representative body for LSIP, said,
“These innovative VR resources are a brilliant example of how partnerships between education providers and local employers can create meaningful career opportunities for young people. The life sciences sector is a key focus of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) as highlighted in the LSIP Annual Progress Report, and initiatives like this show the impact the LSIP can have in aligning skills provision with the needs of local industries. By helping students gain insight into the roles, skills, and career pathways available in such an important field, this project not only benefits young people but also supports employers and the local economy in building a future-ready workforce. It’s a great step towards equipping the next generation with the knowledge and experience needed to succeed in an ever-evolving job market.”
Long Road Sixth Form College is actively seeking partnerships with additional sectors to expand its virtual resource offerings. Employers interested in exploring collaboration opportunities can contact the college at careers@longroad.ac.uk for more information.
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