Provision of Interactive Virtual Learning Simulation Environment

Tender description

The University of South Wales invites tender proposals from organisations to develop an immersive, interactive virtual learning simulation environment that we are naming our ‘Digital Health Village’ (DHV). The University aims to create a functioning resource ready for 22nd September 2022, the beginning of the 2022/2023 academic year. Lot 1: Tenders are being invited for the provision of a Modular Digital Health Village for the delivery of innovative learning and teaching activities for predominantly pre-registration, but also post-registration, Healthcare Professionals. The University of South Wales invites proposals from organisations to develop an immersive, interactive virtual learning simulation environment that we are naming our ‘Digital Health Village’ (DHV). The University aims to create a functioning resource ready for 22nd September 2022, the beginning of the 2022/2023 academic year. The DHV will complement existing and extensive physical simulation and skills training facilities and will be used in the delivery of courses being undertaken by students studying healthcare and social care programmes. This virtual learning simulation environment will be accessible via multiple platforms (e.g., smartphone, tablet, laptop, PC as well as in specialist facilities for full VR/AR learning experiences) will – in time - allow a broad range of virtual community (residential homes, houses, flats) and specialist-facility (health centre, hospital) based health and social care scenarios within a ‘village’ arrangement. This will allow students to experience a range of situations / scenarios so they can explore the needs of the virtual patients/clients to determine the most appropriate signposting or care intervention. The village may also develop to include skill-based simulations that promote the development of the core skills required by individual disciplines. This requirement sets out what we need of a partner in achieving our vision for this future ‘digital village’ service. The intention of this procurement exercise is to identify a partner who can best provide a virtual, multi-platform environment namely a ‘Digital Village’ that can be used to aid the teaching and learning of a range of health and social care students. It is envisaged that this virtual-digital health village can be developed to underpin simulation and placement development already offered at the University. We require the digital health village to be capable of modular development so that it can be developed year on year. This will be via the addition of both learning environments (e.g., domestic / residential / care homes, ambulance, health centre, clinic, hospital) and additional scenarios. Depending on the success of the development, it may in time be extended to incorporate environments / learning scenarios and activities to support the learning of students studying on an expanded range of programmes. This may include, for example, Professional Policing and Initial Teaching Education.