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Extended Reality (XR) at UM: from isolated experiments to university-wide collaboration

The Maastricht University (UM) Extended Reality (XR) network held a meeting on 16 April at the new XR Lab at the University Library with staff from various faculties and expertise centres to map out the current position of XR at UM and strengthen collaboration across the university. 

The event aimed to move from independent developments towards a more unified and connected approach to integrating immersive technologies in education and research.

What is the UM XR Network?

The UM XR network officially launched in June 2024 as one of the outcomes of the innovation project VR-enhanced PBL by SBE (DEXLab) and EDLAB. Currently coordinated by EDLAB, the network serves as a central hub for connecting the university's digital labs, XR researchers and educators, as well as interested staff and students. Its core mission is to develop a community dedicated to exploring the potential of XR by:

  • Facilitating networking and collaboration across different departments.
  • Organising events and hands-on workshops to build practical skills.
  • Sharing resources, from equipment and tools to research and funding opportunities.
  • Showcasing real-world applications of XR to inspire new projects.

The XR network meeting aimed to build on this foundation. The meeting was hosted by the University Library that recently opened two dedicated XR Labs (at GL17 and UNS50), each equipped with 15 VR headsets and individual VR-cells. The library also offers digital labs such as podcast and video studios, 3D printers, and a makerspace, as well as various practical training workshops.

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A framework for growth

A central feature of the meeting was an interactive exercise using the XR Framework, a model designed by Npuls, to help institutions assess their maturity across key dimensions of XR adoption. The framework defines five stages of growth:

  1. Ad hoc: Activity relies on individual initiatives without a central strategy.
  2. Awareness: The institution becomes aware of XR technology and begins initial discussions.
  3. Exploration: Pilot projects and working groups are actively used to inform policy.
  4. Integration: XR is systematically integrated into policy and practice with clear resources.
  5. Optimisation: The use of XR is part of a quality cycle and is continuously improved.

During the session, participants mapped their faculty or unit's current position within this framework. The results showed most activity in the "Awareness" and "Exploration" phases. This indicates that while many colleagues and units are experimenting with XR, the institution is still in the early stages of widespread integration. It is important to note, however, that not all faculties were present, so this mapping provides a snapshot rather than a fully representative view of the entire university.

Npuls hub XR

Thematic analysis: gaps, challenges, and opportunities

The heart of the meeting was a collective reflection on the primary gaps and promising developments in UM's XR ecosystem. The themes that emerged mirrored the challenges and opportunities.

Identified gaps and challenges:

  1. Lack of institutional structure and vision: A predominant theme was the need for a clearer institutional framework and unified vision. This reflects the challenge of coordinating with stakeholders across UM and establishing clear work processes for things like content procurement.
  2. Communication and awareness:
    A significant gap remains in communicating what resources are available and who is working on what. Bringing the possibilities of the XR Labs to the attention of the wider UM community was identified as a key priority.
  3. Resource and support fragmentation:
    In this introductory phase, the need for intensive support is high. Participants cited practical challenges with shared software licenses, hardware dependencies, and the need for broader teaching support to help staff adopt XR.
7 dimensions

Promising developments and opportunities:

  1. Emergence of collaboration and community: The most positive development is the strong, bottom-up drive for co-creation and community. This energy is a core opportunity, with the University Library, DexLab, and various other initiatives across the faculties, continuing to develop support new educational and research initiatives.
  2. Growth of local initiatives: Numerous local pilot projects and the creation of the XR Labs demonstrate significant grassroots momentum and a wealth of practical experience being built.
  3. Focus on sustainability and scaling: The conversation is shifting from simple experimentation towards creating lasting solutions. This "learning by doing" approach is vital, with the community asking the right questions about business cases, sustainability, and workflows for scaling up.

Looking to the future

The meeting concluded with a forward-looking conversation about what is needed to advance to the next phase of XR maturity. The consensus was that to build a mature XR ecosystem, the university must address the identified gaps. This can be achieved by developing a shared vision, creating clear support structures, and fostering a collaborative spirit.

We’ll keep you posted on next steps!

Useful information and links

Find more information about the Digital Lab facilities at the University Library.

Register for the VR session offered by Anna-Lena Hoh and Stefan Bos at the UM Education Days.

All network members are encouraged to keep an eye on the official XR community webpage and the Teams channel, where new events and hands-on workshops will be announced. 

And please join the UM XR Network to share experiences and feel supported and inspired by UM colleagues.

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