Extended Reality for Training Green Skills in the Construction Sector
The XRGREEN.CON project brings together green skills, circular economy principles and Extended Reality (XR) technologies to make vocational education and training in the construction sector more practical, interactive and future-oriented.
Through cooperation between five partner countries – Austria, Croatia, Finland, Latvia and Spain – the project developed innovative learning materials, VR simulations, a joint curriculum and training opportunities for teachers.
Explore the main results, discover the developed learning resources and access the project publications below.
1. VR SIMULATIONS & LEARNING MATERIALS
One of the main achievements of XRGREEN.CON is the development of 22 VR learning simulations focusing on sustainable construction, green skills and circular economy principles.
The simulations cover a wide range of construction-related topics, including recycled materials, concrete production, asphalt recycling, construction waste management, sustainable material selection and construction site safety.
Based on real-life environments and working processes, the simulations offer learners an opportunity to explore practical situations through immersive virtual experiences.
Explore the VR simulations
The VR & 360° Simulation Catalogue provides an overview of all 22 simulations, including their topics and QR codes for accessing the experiences.
2. CURRICULUM & TEACHER TRAINING
XRGREEN.CON developed a joint curriculum entitled Green and Digital Construction with XR Technologies.
The curriculum supports vocational education and training teachers in integrating XR technologies into their teaching and developing learning activities related to sustainable construction and green skills.
The online learning programme consists of three modules covering:
- XR technologies in construction education
- Creating XR learning scenarios
- Using XR in teaching, including implementation and assessment
The programme was developed collaboratively by the project partners and translated into six languages: English, German, Latvian, Spanish, Croatian and Finnish.
Teachers also participated in training and practical activities to explore XR technologies, develop learning scenarios and gain experience with VR equipment and 360° content creation.
3. PILOTING & EVALUATION
The developed VR simulations and online learning programme were tested with students and teachers to evaluate their usability, educational value and potential for future use.
Student piloting
A total of 50 learners participated in the piloting of the VR simulations.
The results were encouraging:
- 94% of learners completed all simulation tasks.
- 78% reported gaining new knowledge or a better understanding of green skills.
- 72% expressed their willingness to use VR simulations in the future.
Learners particularly appreciated the opportunity to explore realistic construction processes and learn through interactive virtual environments.
Teacher piloting
The online learning programme was piloted by educators from Latvia and Croatia.
The feedback highlighted the value of practical examples, simulations and visual learning materials. Six of the eight respondents to the final survey stated that they would use VR simulations in their future teaching. The feedback also identified opportunities to further strengthen practical exercises and the development of XR learning scenarios.
4. RESEARCH & SKILLS ANALYSIS
The project began with research into the existing skills needs and educational structures in the construction sector. The project partners analysed vocational education programmes and collected feedback from teachers, students, companies and other relevant stakeholders.
This research helped identify gaps in green and digital competences and informed the development of the curriculum and VR learning materials.
Joint Curricula Analysis
An analysis of vocational education curricula across the five partner countries, identifying existing learning outcomes and gaps related to green and digital skills.
Skills Needs Report
An overview of the skills needs and expectations of teachers, students and companies, based on surveys and focus groups.
