TU Dublin, BioPharmaChem Skillnet watch over health & safety training using VR

Third collaboration reinforces advantages of mixed reality simulation

Pro

Pictured: David Gardiner, TU Dublin; Siobhan Broughan, Skillnet; Susan Costello and Brendan Kellet, BioPharmaChem); Dr. Brian Vaughn and Jazheel Luna, TU Dublin VIRaL; Sinead Keogh, IBEC; and Dr. Paul Maguire, TU Dublin

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and BioPharmaChem Skillnet, one of 70 Skillnet Business Networks nationwide, have launched a virtual reality (VR) programme designed specifically for workplace health and safety training.

The programme is the third course co-developed by the Skillnet Business Network and TU Dublin using VR. It was developed in collaboration with Dr Brian Vaughan, founder and director of the Virtual Interaction Research Lab (VIRal) at TU Dublin.

Ireland is the third largest exporter of complex pharmaceutical goods and medicines and the second largest exporter of vaccines in Europe, with more than €100 billion in annual exports, 84,000 people directly and indirectly employed, and a further 10,000 jobs to be created over the next five years.

Dr Vaughn said: “This is our third time working with BioPharmaChem Skillnet and we have always found them to be an insightful forward-thinking organisation pushing the boundaries of training in the industry. It’s always great to work with them to co-create mixed reality training applications that incorporate cutting-edge technologies with robust pedagogical principles and methods.”

Susan Costello, network director, BioPharmaChem Skillnet, said: “As the BioPharmaChem sector continues to embrace immersive technologies, we identified the potential for virtual reality to address some of the known key challenges in health and safety that are high risk and time consuming. VIRal at TU Dublin was able to provide the expertise required to transform the concept of a VR programme into a reality.

“Dr Brian Vaughan and the team in TU Dublin ensured that the process ran seamlessly and were able to advise, adapt and reinvent when required. The programme would not have been possible without their expertise and the support of Skillnet Ireland, BioPharmaChem Ireland along with the expertise and time that industry members gave to articulate the needs around this training for the sector.”

BioPharmaChem Skillnet provides upskilling to businesses of all sizes in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical device, and chemical supply sectors. The network’s mission is to further advance Ireland’s position as a world leader in health innovation through leading-edge talent development solutions.

TechCentral Reporters

Read More: research Skillnet TU Dublin