We are pleased to acknowledge the participation of our KU Leuven colleagues, Theodora Rontzova and Zoë Vandenhende, as speakers at the 10th International Conference on Educational Technologies – ICEduTech25, held in Madeira, Portugal, from 01-03 March 2025.
Their short paper, titled “EXPLORING VIRTUAL HERITAGE IN THE METAVERSE. REIMAGINING TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE IMPULSE PRE-HACKATHON WORKSHOP AT KU LEUVEN,” was featured during the session on “Mobile, Virtual and Vicarious Learning // Simulations and Modeling,” chaired by Professor Toru Fujimoto.
The paper explores the educational applications of VR platforms, fostering collaboration among interdisciplinary participants to create immersive learning experiences with digitized cultural objects. It also examines the theoretical foundations of the first IMPULSE Pre-Hackathon Workshop, which took place in Leuven, Belgium from February 18th to 19th, 2025.
The IMPULSE project (IMmersive digitization: uPcycling cULtural heritage towards new reviving StratEgies), funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, aims to advance digital cultural heritage by integrating cutting-edge technologies into educational practices. The project unites educators, researchers, and industry professionals to explore innovative approaches through virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI).
A core component of IMPULSE is a series of pre-hackathon workshops leading up to a final hackathon in 2026. These workshops facilitate collaboration across fields such as education, artistic creation, and the Cultural and Creative Industries. The first pre-hackathon workshop, held in February 2025 at KU Leuven, focused on the educational applications of VR, enabling participants to co-create immersive learning experiences with digitized cultural objects. This interactive approach encourages the transformation of traditional 2D artifacts into dynamic, 3D environments, enhancing audience engagement with cultural heritage in an educational context.
