Together with Pijar Foundation, VR Created by Vocational Students Helps Discover Interests and Work Experience

In collaboration with Pijar Foundation, SMK Raden Umar Said (RUS) Kudus, Central Java, has developed a virtual reality (VR) tool to help students discover their interests and better understand workplace conditions without having to directly enter the field.

The presence of VR technology undeniably makes activities easier for society. This technology allows people to enter a virtual world through software or applications connected to a device such as virtual glasses (VR box) that cover the eyes, transporting the user into a virtual world filled with a collection of objects.

“The idea for this project came from concerns about how vocational students could be accepted into the industry. The issue is that their initiative or soft skills are lacking. They often feel awkward when they go straight into industry practice,” explained Creative Director of RUS Animation, Ivan Nadi, as reported on the official website of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology on Friday, July 29, 2022.

Pijar Foundation’s CTO, Ahmad Ataka, added that one of the causes of this difficulty is that students often do not yet understand which field of study they want to pursue. According to Ahmad, students therefore need to be introduced early on to future career options. “On the access side, we focus on guiding them until they find a suitable career path,” he said.

Ahmad explained that VR is needed to provide a look and feel as if students were doing the activities themselves in the field. “So, they can see a completely new world. The role of VR is very crucial because it gives a different kind of experience,” he said. Ahmad hopes this VR technology product will benefit students in the future.

This innovation is the result of collaboration between SMK RUS and Pijar Foundation. SMK RUS provides the content containing engaging material about various fields of study, which is then processed by Pijar Foundation.

“Technically, we collaborate by providing content. But the content must first be analyzed, so cooperation with others is also needed. This outcome helps simplify the learning process. Eventually, students can also get a sense of what it’s like to work in the industry. We make examples by showing the atmosphere and the products,” explained Ivan.

Ivan further shared that his team first structured the narrative like a film to make it more engaging. Around 10–15 vocational students were involved in the project. “Then we added explanations, ending with a survey. For example, if a student chooses the animation major, where would it be most suitable for them,” he explained.

Ahmad described how the tool works: it only requires downloading an application on a smartphone. “Then the smartphone is placed into a device that transports them into the world of animation,” he said. The work was showcased at a vocational event themed “Vokasiland: Road to Hakteknas 2022” held in Surabaya on Thursday, July 28, 2022.

This article first published by Tempo