IE University & VirtualSpeech: Building Student Confidence with VR Public Speaking

Описание: In the episode, we discuss how IE University partnered with VirtualSpeech to integrate VR into higher education and make immersive training part of the curriculum. Sophie Thompson, CEO of VirtualSpeech, and Gema Molero, XR Project Manager at IE University, share how they introduced compulsory VR public speaking training for over 1,000 master’s students and scaled to 700+ headsets across campuses. They highlight early adoption challenges, faculty engagement, and how ArborXR helps them manage devices and track usage at scale.
We dive into the impact of VR on learning outcomes, including a 24% boost in student confidence after just two sessions, and explore how AI-powered feedback is transforming skill development. The discussion also covers practical lessons on proving ROI, reducing barriers to adoption, and building sustainable XR programs that can scale across enterprises.

About the Guests:
Sophie Thompson is the CEO and co-founder of VirtualSpeech, the first VR app designed to help people overcome the fear of public speaking. VirtualSpeech has since expanded to a global soft skills training platform used by enterprises and universities worldwide.

Gema Molero is the Project Manager of XR at IE University, where she leads the rollout of immersive learning programs and oversees the management of 700+ VR headsets across multiple campuses.

About VirtualSpeech:
VirtualSpeech is a VR training platform that helps individuals and organizations develop soft skills through immersive practice and real-time feedback. Its modules cover public speaking, leadership, job interviews, and more, combining VR experiences with AI-driven coaching.

About ArborXR:
ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR.
Learn more at https://arborxr.com.

Timestamps:
Introduction to VirtualSpeech (01:02)
Why IE University Made VR Compulsory (05:03)
Faculty Adoption & Early Challenges (11:07)
How Students Use VR Day-to-Day (15:30)
Immersion and Emotional Response in VR (20:39)
AI Coaching and Personalized Learning (20:39)
Scaling to 700 Devices with ArborXR (21:46)
Proving ROI: Confidence Up 24% in Two Sessions (27:31)
Advice for Universities Considering VR (27:31)
Outro and Conclusion (33:26)