Bridging Books and Bytes: The UWI St. Augustine’s Alma Jordan Library and The UWI Global Campus’ Digital Learning Innovation unite to redefine learning spaces with XR Technologies

Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal. Wednesday, March 13, 2024 – The Alma Jordan Library (AJL) at The UWI St. Augustine Campus and the Digital Learning Innovation (DLI) Unit at The UWI Global Campus are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking collaboration to bring eXtended Reality (XR) technologies into the traditional higher education landscape.

This visionary initiative, initiated by Mrs Karen Rosemin, Head - DLI Unit and Mr. Ahmed Ali, IT Officer - AJL, aims to showcase the transformative potential of XR technologies in the traditional academic setting by hosting immersive demos, simulations, and training sessions. This project will provide students, lecturers, and faculty members with a firsthand experience of the remarkable capabilities of XR.

The DLI team hosted a 2-day workshop at the AJL last November titled "Virtual Visions: Bridging Books and Bytes to Redefine the Library Experience." This workshop, led by Mr. Riaz Baldeo, Digital Strategist - DLI Unit, focused on leveraging Augmented and Virtual Reality (AVR) and digital twin technologies to revolutionize library spaces. Attendees from the AJL learned about 3D scanning, creating immersive experiences, and using XR platforms to design interactive educational content. The highlight is anticipated to be a project by the AJL team to design mini virtual exhibits, skillfully blending the traditional and digital realms.

Another expected outcome of this collaboration is a proposed agreement detailing the shared commitment between both departments to implement an Alma Jordan Library XR Suite Initiative. XR is an umbrella term encompassing Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). These technologies create immersive digital environments that can either replace the real world (VR), overlay digital information onto the physical world (AR), or blend real and virtual worlds (MR). In higher education, XR is rapidly gaining traction as a transformative tool. It provides unique, immersive learning experiences that can simulate complex real-world scenarios, facilitate remote and interactive learning, and enhance student engagement and understanding. From medical training using 3D simulations to history classes immersed in virtual tours, XR is revolutionizing the traditional classroom, making learning more interactive, accessible, and engaging.

This collaboration marks a significant step in integrating cutting-edge technology into the traditional library setting, fostering a new era of learning and discovery. By merging the expertise of the AJL with that of the DLI, this initiative promises to redefine the academic experience for the UWI community and beyond.

Ms. Jolie Rajah, a Faculty Liaison Librarian at the Alma Jordan Library, performs a 3D scan of a unique collection item, crafting its precise digital twin for enhanced archival and educational purposes.

About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development, residing at the center of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for over 75 years. From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and the wider world.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). Since The UWI’s 2018 debut in THE’s rankings, it has performed well in multiple schemes—among them including World University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings (between 50 and 80 years old), Latin America Rankings, and the Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu.