The main objective of the READY, IMMERSE AND GO! project was to experiment with the use of virtual reality as an innovative pedagogical tool to prepare students, trainees, and apprentices for international mobility. More specifically, the project aimed to: 1. Strengthen learners’ confidence and motivation when preparing for a stay abroad. By offering realistic immersive experiences, the project sought to help students overcome their fears (fear of the unknown, culture shock, isolation, language barriers) and to envision themselves more confidently in an international mobility experience. 2. Promote inclusion and equal opportunities by providing a first “virtual international experience” to individuals who, for social, economic, or health-related reasons, do not have easy access to physical mobility. 3. Contribute to the digital transformation of higher education. By testing virtual reality in a new field of application (international mobility), the partnership aimed to produce transferable results for other institutions and to enrich innovative teaching practices. In the longer term, the project ultimately aimed to increase the number of participants in international mobility programmes.
We applied for the READY, IMMERSE AND GO! project in order to address a major strategic challenge shared by the entire partnership: strengthening the attractiveness and accessibility of international mobility in higher education, while taking into account the profound transformations brought about by the health crisis and the digital transition. Within our institutions, we had observed a significant decline in students’ willingness to engage in international mobility, particularly among the most vulnerable learners. Many experienced a lack of confidence, an increased fear of the unknown, and difficulties in envisioning themselves in an international experience. This situation was further exacerbated by socio-economic, cultural, or health-related factors, which continued to hinder equitable access to international mobility. At the same time, we identified virtual reality as an emerging technology with strong educational potential and as a powerful psychological support tool, which remains largely underexplored in the context of preparation for international mobility. It was within this framework that the partnership decided to experiment with an innovative approach combining virtual reality, student co-creation, and pedagogical ing