The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Global Campus (UWIGC) and the Sandals Corporate University (SCU) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), allowing the SCU to move forward with its multimillion-dollar initiative with EON Reality.
With the use of the EON Reality platform, the two institutions will be able to collaborate on mutually beneficial projects aimed at developing extended reality projects during the two-year partnership.
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The Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed at a ceremony held at Sandals Barbados, gives The UWI Global Campus and the SCU a foundation for future collaboration on training and educational projects throughout the Caribbean.
Senior Corporate Director for the SCU Dr. Luz Longsworth called the occasion a historic one in which two outstanding institutions unite to do great things.
“Both institutions have much in common which allows us to join forces to impact the sustainability of our region. We focus on the development and education of our people and countries of this beautiful Caribbean. This MoU will create a framework for the SCU and The UWI Global Campus to work towards coordinating digital and technology-related projects and initiatives across campuses and across the Sandals group.”
Dr. Longsworth continued by outlining the principal topics that the Memorandum of Understanding would address, “The UWI Global Campus will provide technical input and subject matter expertise for the development of 3D assets and 360-degree experiences in the development of hospitality training content specifically relating to rooms, food and beverage, bookings, watersports, and others. In turn, the SCU and Sandals will provide internship programs for students, faculty, and staff at various levels. The MoU also makes provisions for collaborating with other institutions to foster an appreciation of new and emerging technological opportunities in the hospitality industry and to help in the understanding of how tourism can aid in environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and adaptation strategies. Finally, it will facilitate the use of technology, including without limitation, AR, VR, XR and AI to boost corporate social responsibility efforts,” she noted.
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Global Campus, Dr. Francis O. Severin, conveyed his appreciation for this ground-breaking chance to work with the SCU. He revealed, “in 2021 The UWI Global Campus decided to invest in advanced digital skills for its faculty to help prepare students academically for emerging digital technologies. It is even more important now to introduce and encourage skills to leverage platforms and technologies to generate digitally created goods and services for global audiences. This allows us to eliminate traditional barriers to productive participation like location, gender, and disabilities. These are the values we hold true which opens opportunities to collaborate with like-minded organizations. By harmoniously weaving into the teaching, technological, and applied research capacities of the University through XR, AI, and other emerging platforms alongside the SCU, we have no doubt we will be better able to support the movement of the Caribbean curriculum.”
In closing, he said that the goal of The UWI Global Campus is to provide an immersive learning environment where employees, students, and other stakeholders may train, learn, and work as effectively and efficiently as possible. “This will be the first of its kind for the region and will usher in a new approach to education and training that engages learners in experiential environments,” he stated.
As of right now, both sides are putting in effort on the Digital Immersive Virtual Enhancement (DIVE) Project, the first of several projects.
With the help of this initiative, tourists will be able to enjoy the beauty of underwater adventures while simultaneously learning about environmental protection through recorded encounters exhibiting coral reefs, diving locations, and protected regions.
It is a reaction to the ecological issues that climate change, human activity, and natural disasters have brought about in our area.
