NPTC Group of Colleges Opens First Immersive Lab of Its Kind in a UK Further Education College

NPTC Group of Colleges has officially opened its groundbreaking new Immersive Lab at Neath College, a pioneering facility and the first immersive, collaborative digital classroom of its kind in a Wales-based FE college.

The launch event celebrated a major milestone in the College’s digital transformation journey, marking the completion of an ambitious project made possible through months of collaboration across internal teams and partners. The development has been supported through investment from the Shared Prosperity Fund at Neath Port Talbot, whose contribution has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.

Mark Dacey, CEO of NPTC Group of Colleges, emphasised the significance of the launch:

“This facility encourages creativity, curiosity, and confidence — qualities at the heart of excellent learning. For our students, it provides the opportunity to develop genuine digital fluency. For our staff, it opens up new ways to design innovative, future-focused lessons. And for the College, it represents a major step forward in our commitment to lead digital innovation in Welsh further education.”

The new Immersive Lab provides a high-specification, purpose-built digital environment designed to enable large-scale immersive learning experiences. The facility features:

• A 24-panel Infinity LED wall delivering ultra-high-resolution visuals
• A 6-panel video wall and multiple interactive touchscreens to support collaboration
• A suite of virtual-reality headsets enabling realistic, scenario-based learning
• A robust digital infrastructure enabling seamless, inclusive use of advanced technologies

Nicola Brandon, Director of Digital Innovation in Teaching and Learning, highlighted the importance of the new facility for curriculum delivery:

“The Immersive Lab represents much more than an investment in technology — it’s an investment in people. It gives learners access to the tools and experiences shaping modern workplaces, while supporting our staff to develop confidence and creativity in digital pedagogy. This space will transform how we teach, how we learn, and how we continue innovating across the College.”

The opening of the Immersive Lab comes at a time of national recognition for the College’s digital work. NPTC Group of Colleges has recently been named as a finalist in the AoC Beacon Awards for its submission to the Jisc Award for Effective Use of Digital Technology in Further Education.

The recognised project, “Advancing Academic Skills: A Library-Led, Technology-Enhanced Programme,” showcases how AI tools, podcasting, and mobile technologies are being used to enhance students’ academic and digital literacy.

The event was attended by The Worshipful the Mayor of Neath, Councillor Wayne Carpenter, who officially opened the facility by cutting the ribbon.

With the Immersive Lab now open, Neath College stands at the forefront of digital education — leading the way as the first FE college in the country to deliver this level of immersive, collaborative learning.