Taylor's University invested over RM1 million in the making of this cutting-edge space as the university gears up to adopt XR and immersive technologies in teaching, learning, and research
It has been estimated that Malaysia’s digital economy will create over half a million jobs by 2025. In a move to stay ahead of the evolving digital landscape, Taylor’s University has led the way in education that's grounded in real-world skills and cutting-edge resources. The top-ranking university recently launched the Vortex XR Lab, at its Lakeside campus, a well-equipped space to facilitate the creation of XR content and research.
“Students are no longer satisfied with just an information download from lecturers, and sitting in a class for hours,” says Taylor’s University deputy vice-chancellor and chief academic officer Professor Dr Pradeep Nair. “They want to see, feel, touch, and experience. We are witnessing a shift in learner expectations, where they expect learning to be flexible, on demand, personalised, engaging and immersive. With Vortex, all students across the university and college will be exposed to some form of immersive technology as part of the university’s journey in transforming our curriculum and pedagogy to embed tech skills and modules into our degrees to prepare our graduates to work in jobs of the future.”
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The facilities available at the Vortex XR Lab include a green screen studio, XR applications, an LED Stage powered by Zero Density, mixed reality immersive rooms, VR head mounted displays powered by Meta Quest and HTC, and a HoloLens 2 station. According to Nair, the university invested more than RM1 million in the development of this lab, which will support all faculties.
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Vortex XR Lab and Taylor's Design School senior lecturer Dr Charles Sharma Naidu added that the lab will also act as an XR incubation centre that provides technical support and academic training in XR services, an XR advocacy and research centre and an action platform initiating more XR projects while seeking funding for and commercialisation of XR products.
“As a leading private higher education institution, we see the need to aggressively transform into an innovator in the education space to drive innovative XR research, ideas and solutions alongside the nation’s growth in these areas,” says Naidu.