University of Gloucestershire Secures £2.5m to Create Centre of Excellence for Immersive Learning Environments

University of Gloucestershire has been awarded £2.5m by the Office for Students to open FutureSim – a cutting-edge, AI-powered Centre of Excellence for Simulation and Technology-Enhanced Immersive Learning (TEL).

Opening at its Oxstalls Campus in April 2026, this major investment will transform the way students, professionals and employers experience simulation-based education, workforce development and digital practice.

FutureSim will bring together and expand the University’s existing simulation facilities into one integrated hub, featuring five modular zones designed to replicate real-world environments including clinical, community, forensic, custodial and outdoor settings. Existing buildings will be refurbished to deliver the new facilities in a way that is both environmentally sustainable and economically efficient.

The Centre will feature immersive environments, virtual patient pods and a Hydra command suite for crisis leadership, alongside state-of-the-art manikins, wearable technologies, XR/VR platforms and AI-enabled analytics. Learners will have the opportunity to practise, experiment and innovate in safe yet highly realistic environments that reflect the challenges and complexity of real-world professional practice.

FutureSim has been developed in alignment with the Gloucestershire Local Skills Improvement Plan, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, and the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Digital Strategy. It will play a crucial role in addressing digital skills gaps across health, social care, policing, cyber, AI and education – key sectors for the region and beyond.

By increasing the University’s simulation capacity by 25%, FutureSim will help ease placement pressures and ensure graduates are digitally fluent, work-ready and confident in applying AI-driven workflows.

Matthew Andrews, Chief Operating Officer at University of Gloucestershire, said: “We are delighted to be one of only five institutions to be awarded the maximum funding allocation of £2.5m in the Office for Students’ Capital funding competition for 2025/26.

“FutureSim represents a bold step forward in how we prepare our students and partners for the future of digital and professional practice. By investing in cutting-edge simulation and AI-ready environments, we’re not just enhancing how people learn, we’re strengthening our region’s ability to meet national workforce needs and drive innovation across public services and industry.”

Building on the University’s strong reputation for large-scale interprofessional simulation with the NHS and emergency services, FutureSim will deepen collaboration with employers and industry partners.

FutureSim reinforces Gloucestershire’s ambition to become a national hub for cyber and digital innovation, supporting the development of a highly skilled, future-ready workforce that can lead the way in the age of AI and technology-enhanced learning.