Meta recently announced the official launch of its ‘Meta for Education’ initiative, stepping out of the testing phase. This development opens up a new horizon for schools and educational bodies worldwide, enabling them to transform their classrooms with Quest headsets and tap into a multitude of XR applications and software designed specifically for learning.
First introduced in April of last year, Meta for Education aims to offer a turnkey solution for educators eager to integrate XR technology into teaching. This package includes Quest headsets, XR management solutions tailored for educational settings, and a range of tools and apps crafted for school administrators, teachers, and students alike.
Throughout the beta testing phase, Meta collaborated with various colleges across the United States and the United Kingdom. Educators found that the integration of virtual and mixed reality not only boosted student engagement but also made it easier for students to grasp complex subjects.
Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs and former UK Deputy Prime Minister, is particularly excited about this venture. He believes that immersive technologies have the power to revolutionize education by allowing students to experience scenarios they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.
“Throughout my career, improving educational opportunities for children has always been at the forefront of my efforts, both in politics and now in technology,” Clegg remarked. “The strides in immersive technologies at Meta—like virtual and augmented reality—continue to inspire me with their potential to reshape learning. With Meta for Education, I envision students more easily acquiring, practicing, and applying new skills, building connections with their teachers and peers, and exploring places or concepts beyond their immediate reality. Most importantly, I hope it supports teachers in their most vital role: teaching.”
Meta has observed encouraging results from 43 schools within the Inspired Education Group, where immersive technology is actively used with teens. These schools reported that 87% of students felt more engaged and interested in their lessons. Additionally, 85% of teachers found virtual and mixed reality to be an invaluable enhancement to their teaching toolkit, with students showing a 15% increase in performance on multiple-choice assessments.
The end of the beta phase comes alongside strategic collaborations with institutions such as Arizona State University, Imperial College London, and the University of Miami, all of which are embedding VR into their courses.
Moreover, Meta teamed up with VictoryXR to create over 30 “metaversities” using the Engage XR platform. These digital twin campuses offer remote students a chance to interact as if they were physically present. Currently, students at the University of Leeds in the UK, the University of the Basque Country in Spain, and the University of Hannover in Germany can access these virtual campuses.
Educators interested in diving deeper into the Meta for Education initiative can visit the program’s website. This platform provides contact information for applicants hailing from a diverse range of countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
