WWETB won Best Use of Educational Technology/ICT Initiative at The Education Awards 2025 earlier this year for its Virtual Hospital Room, an immersive learning environment designed for health assistants. 

The project allows learners to practice, revise, and be assessed on mandatory skills as part of the QQI Level 5 Major Award in Healthcare Support. This virtual reality content is the first of its kind in Ireland, providing a highly interactive platform where students can safely experience real-world scenarios while receiving immediate feedback.

Judges highlighted WWETB’s innovative application of virtual reality and its tangible benefits for both students and instructors. 

“WWETB’s innovative use of Virtual Reality in the Virtual Hospital Room project provides a unique and immersive learning experience for health assistants. The feedback from both students and industry experts confirms that this initiative prepares students exceptionally well for the workforce. This forward-thinking approach drives learning experiences in a highly impactful and technology-driven way,” the judges said. 

The programme involved close collaboration between faculty, clinical practitioners, and educational technologists, ensuring that the content reflects real-life hospital procedures and best practices. 

WWETB’s recognition reflects broader trends within the Education Awards, where winners are distinguished by measurable impact, practical learning integration, and sector-wide influence. Their achievement now sets a benchmark for immersive healthcare education as attention turns to the 2026 awards cycle.

Who will define the next wave of technology-driven, student-centred learning in 2026? Entries close on 15 January 2026, with finalists announced on 12 February 2026. From then, the awards gala will take place on 16 April 2026 at the Johnstown Estate, Enfield, Co. Meath.

Visit the official Education Awards website to explore past winners, category details, and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and insights.