USP College transform classroom to health ward to support learning
- Posted 12 Oct 2023
A £1.5 million college expansion is giving young people a unique opportunity to work within a simulation hospital.
USP College Seevic Campus, in Benfleet, received the Department for Education funding to enable it to offer students a chance to get hands-on during their studies.
The new building, an extension of the existing facilities, houses modern, innovative, specialist equipment to mimic industry standards to ensure students can replicate real-world working environments.
Thanks to the use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology, students will be able to immerse themselves in their chosen career – including feeding, changing and educating children at nursery and consulting with patients and prescribing medication in a healthcare setting.
Embedding technology and the use of VR throughout all of our lessons allows us to simulate real-world scenarios, making learning more engaging and practical for our learners at USP College. The application of VR can significantly increase student motivation. It can turn learning into an exciting and enjoyable experience, which can increase overall engagement and retention of information.
Our new infrastructures, that complement our existing immersive classrooms and XTEND Digital Campus, will create a virtual simulation environment for learners at USP College.
Dan Pearson, Principal & CEO
The simulated healthcare environment will recreate realistic healthcare and social care scenarios, allowing students to practice skills and decision-making in situations which closely resemble those they will encounter in their future careers – including patient assessments, emergency situations and counselling sessions.
The state-of-the-art hospital beds and technical equipment also mean students can practice and refine clinical and interpersonal skills, such as wound care, administering medication, conducting physical assessments, and communicating with patients and clients, using the most up-to-date software in the medical sector.
Simulated environments play a crucial role in training students in healthcare and social care by providing safe and controlled settings for learning and skill development. The use of our hospital simulated environments can benefit our students in many ways, including learning specialist technical skills and transferable skills required for the workplace.
The use of VR software in healthcare and social care education at USP College has the potential to revolutionise how students acquire skills and engage with complex topics. By providing immersive, realistic, and interactive learning experiences, VR can better prepare students for the challenges they will face in their careers while ensuring a high level of engagement and skill development.
Kara Stoker, Curriculum Manager Health, Social Care & Early Years
The investments will support learners across all courses at USP College, although the investment predominantly supports those studying our new T-Level Health qualification.
This boost of over £100 million is our latest investment in T Levels. These are robust, high quality technical qualifications providing a unique ladder of opportunity for students to gain both classroom knowledge and on-the-job experience.
From robotics suites that support digital T Levels to simulated health wards where students can get a real sense of what it means to work in Healthcare Science, T Levels will support young people into rewarding careers and back businesses with the skills of the future.
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeship and Higher Education Robert Halfon
Our new facilities are amazing! The rooms are so helpful as it really allows us to gain a realistic understanding of how to set up, maintain and manage a suitable setting.
Holly O’Brien, student studying within the Sport & Healthcare Professionals Sector
The College have also invested in a new simulation nursery, mega Science Labs and brand new digital tech spaces with more to be revealed soon.
