</Students get hands on with VR technology at University visit>
Students at a Coventry comprehensive school were given access to top of the range Virtual Reality technology in a bid to open their eyes to the possibility of a career in the tech sector.
A group of 70 students from Lyng Hall School visited the Institute of Coding Coventry University’s base at the Engineering, Environment and Computing Building on Gulson Road for an insight into games design, ethical hacking and more.
Activities on the day included creating a model aeroplane using Industry standard 3D modelling software as well as using a Virtual Reality headset within a gaming environment to highlight the wide range of careers in the tech sector.
The Institute of Coding Coventry University is working with companies across the region to learn more about their technological requirements and how they can be met with new industry specific courses.
The team at Coventry welcomed Lyng Hall students as part of their work to engage with pupils who will be making up the workforce of the future.
Louise Phipps, Business Development Manager at the Institute of Coding Coventry University, said: “Aside from my role at the Institute of Coding, I am also an Enterprise Advisor at Lyng Hall School, helping to develop effective career advice for pupils.
“I thought that giving them a chance to use some of the top of the range equipment we have here, such as Virtual Reality headsets, 3D design software and our ethical hacking lab, would open their eyes to the possibility of a career in tech.
“We have given them a useful mix of practical exercises to show just how much variety there is in this field, bring the theory to life and hopefully today has inspired some to go on to work in the industry.”
The visit was organised as Lyng Hall School continues to strive to increase the number of its students considering taking on computer and technology studies over the coming years.
John Inley, Head of STEM and Computer Science at Lyng Hall, said: “It was a fantastic experience for our pupils to work at the Institute of Coding for the day and use the vast array of technology they have here.
“From a careers point of view, we are trying to encourage more pupils to consider taking on computer and technology studies as they are only going to become increasingly important over the coming years.
“Maybe today has opened a few eyes to the possibilities, we have certainly had some positive feedback.”