Arkansas Program Uses VR for Career Exploration

A statewide initiative in Arkansas is using virtual reality to help residents explore technical career paths and training options. The Arkansas Office of Skills Development partnered with Arkansas Community Colleges and economic development platform TRANSFR for the program, which has already reached more than 200 students throughout the state and plans to reach up to 4,500 more this year.

Through the program's career path discovery tool, students and job seekers can access hands-on virtual reality experiences developed by TRANSFR that provide an immersive, on-the-job view of a variety of technical industries, such as manufacturing, skilled trades, warehousing and storage, hospitality, public safety and automotive. Students then receive information on local community colleges and job training programs that can help them prepare for those careers.

"To address the shortage of skilled talent felt by employers in Arkansas and across the country, the first step is ensuring that students and early career professionals gain exposure to the wide range of skilled occupations that are in demand," said Kenneth Calhouln, fleet optimization manager for Altec, an employer partner supporting the program. "This partnership will help more Arkansas residents explore career pathways in the industries in greatest need — and understand the education and training options available to help them take their next professional step."

"Demand for talent is growing in industries like manufacturing, transportation, construction and the skilled trades — professions that can often lead to long-term economic and career stability. However, students often lack awareness of the education or training options they need to get started," commented Cody Waits, director of the Arkansas Office of Skills Development. "This statewide program is an example of how we can pair innovative technologies with our existing career and technical education resources to help more students prepare for new career horizons — and meet the skilled workforce needs of employers."

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • abstract pattern of shapes, arrows and circuit lines

    Internet2 Announces a New President and CEO to Step Up in October

    Internet2, the member-driven nonprofit offering advanced network technology services and cyberinfrastructure to the research and education community has completed its search, which began this past May, for a new president and CEO to take the helm.

  • shield with an AI microchip emblem hovering above stacks of gold coins

    AI Security Spend Surges While Traditional Security Budgets Shrink

    A new Thales report reveals that while enterprises are pouring resources into AI-specific protections, only 8% are encrypting the majority of their sensitive cloud data — leaving critical assets exposed even as AI-driven threats escalate and traditional security budgets shrink.

  • stack of gold coins disintegrates into digital particles against a dark circuit-board background with glowing AI imagery

    MIT Report: Most Organizations See No Business Return on Gen AI Investments

    A recent report out of the MIT Media Lab found that despite $30-40 billion in enterprise spending on generative AI, 95% of organizations are seeing no business return.

  • young man in a denim jacket scans his phone at a card reader outside a modern glass building

    Colleges Roll Out Mobile Credential Technology

    Allegion US has announced a partnership with Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and Denison College, in conjunction with Transact + CBORD, to install mobile credential technologies campuswide. Implementing Mobile Student ID into Apple Wallet and Google Wallet will allow students access to campus facilities, amenities, and residence halls using just their phones.