2025-07-02 –, Theil C1-3 (60p)
In this presentation, I’ll take you inside the four cutting-edge Experimental Labs launched in 2025 under the DUTCH program. These labs test VR, AR, and other XR tools in real-world settings—bridging innovation and education to build a smarter, faster, and more hands-on way to train future healthcare professionals.
To address the growing demand for well-trained healthcare professionals—such as operating room assistants, anesthesia technicians, and radiology technologists— it is essential to expand educational capacity through the integration of emerging learning technologies. To accelerate this process, four Experimental Labs have been established in early 2025 as part of DUTCH.DUTCH is a program funded by the Dutch National Growth Fund. These labs serve as a vital link between innovation and real-world implementation.
In this presentation, I will provide an inside look into the four labs and how they contribute to the development of an adaptive learning platform for healthcare education. The labs act as experimental spaces where existing and newly developed XR-based learning tools are tested in realistic settings for their educational value, usability, and scalability. Examples include VR surgical simulations, AR-supported training modules, and physical simulators integrated with digital feedback systems.
The goal is to create an effective and scalable learning platform that enables students to train faster, more effectively, and with greater exposure to practical, hands-on experiences. The approach is interdisciplinary: educators, technology partners, and healthcare institutions work closely together to validate, refine, and integrate these learning tools into the educational practice.
Femke Dijkstra is a lecturer at the Nursing Academy of Saxion University of Applied Sciences, where she is mainly involved in simulation-based education. She is also a PhD student at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where she studies interprofessional healthcare teams in stressful situations, with a focus on teamwork and communication. Since February 2025, she has been working as project leader of the Experimental Labs within the DUTCH program.