A virtual experience at Newcastle College

As students across the country continue their learning at home, it’s easy to forget that many of them are busy planning for the next stage of their education. As we head towards summer, it would normally be a busy time for colleges and universities welcoming prospective future students onto campus for open events and taster days, all of which are now cancelled.

Despite this, Newcastle College is forging ahead with its future plans and is set to host its first Virtual Open Event on Wednesday 3 June, to offer advice and guidance to anyone still looking to apply for a college course, adult course, degree or apprenticeship.

The Virtual Open Event is designed to be realistic and interactive, allowing visitors to wander around a 3D exhibition and browse subjects and courses at their own pace, before speaking in real time to tutors and advisers.

“Our monthly Open Events are usually a really big and exciting experience,” says Tony Lewin, Principal of Newcastle College. “They offer the opportunity to see the campus, ask questions and really get a feel for what it’s like to come and study here.

“Since we can’t hold them right now, we wanted to find a way of recreating that feeling of coming onto campus and seeing everything that we have on offer for the first time. This Virtual Open Event gets as close as we possibly can to that.

“It’s an immersive experience, it isn’t just a Live Chat with an adviser. You’re able to walk around, look at all of the different areas we offer and then you can communicate with people however you choose, whether that’s through an instant message or by speaking through your microphone.

“It means you can have real conversations, ask questions and even though it’s online and we’re still using technology, it offers a really human touch which I think makes all the difference.

“At the moment, everyone is going through a lot of change and uncertainty and I feel especially for those people preparing to leave school or take their next big step, it must be more daunting than ever. I hope that this event helps make it all a little bit easier for them and gives them something positive to look forward to!

Newcastle College’s first Virtual Open Event will be held on Wednesday 3 June, 12 – 5pm. To find out more, or to register for a place, visit www.ncl-coll-virtualopenhouse2020.vfairs.com.