Can immersive spaces create positive learning experiences across borders?

What are we exploring?

Online learning has made it possible to bring people together from almost anywhere. But much of it still happens through a flat screen, with people looking at a grid of faces.

We're exploring whether immersive environments can create a stronger sense of being together when participants are physically thousands of miles apart.

Could coaches from different countries meet inside the same virtual room? Could they move around content, watch football together, work on problems and have conversations in ways that feel closer to sharing a physical space?

What are we doing?

We're building and testing a simple Hive virtual learning space.

The aim isn't to recreate a traditional classroom in VR. We're interested in what becomes possible because the environment is immersive — shared objects, spatial activities, interactive content, different learning spaces and experiences that would be difficult to reproduce on a video call.

We're also exploring accessibility: how people might participate through a VR headset or a conventional computer, rather than requiring everyone to own specialist equipment.

Where are we now?

We're at the prototype stage.

We're testing existing platforms and beginning to build our own environments, while identifying the parts of cross-border learning where immersion might genuinely add value.

The question isn't whether we can run a workshop in VR.

It's whether there are moments when being there together changes the learning experience.