XR Terra Partners with Boston University Spark!

BOSTON, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- This summer XR Terra partners with BU Spark! alongside BU partners including the College of Arts & Sciences, the Faculty of Computing & Data Science, the Department of Computer Science, and BU Digital Learning and Innovation. XR Terra, alongside its BU partners, will offer XR Terra's industry-based course in AR & VR software development to computer science and computer engineering university students.

Extended reality technologies ("XR" is the umbrella term for virtual, augmented and mixed realities) is expected to contribute $1.5 trillion dollars in global GDP impact by 2030, according to a 2019 report by PwC. And the demand for the skills in this field is growing exponentially. The pandemic has accelerated utilization and curiosity about the capabilities of spatial computing applications to reach customers, provide services and more. The program also teaches Unity Engine, the dominant platform for XR software development. The program aims to upskill creators in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) across multiple industries such as education, games, auto, transportation, film, animation, healthcare and more.

As the only Unity Authorized Training Partner in Massachusetts, XR Terra is well-positioned to accelerate and deepen student facility with XR. Industry experts Craig Herndon and Jonathan Linowes will co-teach this live, online 12-week course to 20 BU students for 7 hours per week. In addition to live coursework, students complete online assignments and projects each week, as well as two live industry projects with XR enterprise partners such as PTC over the duration of the program.

"Our project-based curriculum allows students to get hands-on XR software development experience to build a professional portfolio, and engage directly with industry experts to explore career opportunities. We are excited to partner with Boston University to upskill students on this high-growth technology.".
-Janet Kang, CEO, XR Terra

As colleges and universities pivot to exceed student expectations in this uncertain economy, this partnership represents a novel way for universities to augment their offerings for students.

"We know that many of our students have long been interested in AR and VR technologies. This collaboration with XR Terra not only provides students with these specialized skills, but also provides them with real-world opportunities to work with industry and put their skills into practice."
-Ziba Cranmer, Director, BU Spark! - an initiative for student-centered entrepreneurship and innovation in computing.

Program Features

Professional Portfolio – Students work on multiple projects to showcase their capabilities
Expert Instructors - Our instructors are subject-matter experts with extensive experience in professional XR development as well as instruction in an academic setting
Career exploration - Students learn about career pathways in XR with input from special guests from industry during the program
Format - Live online classes for 7 hours per week, plus additional self-study and project work
Credits - students earn one college-level credit from Boston University

BU SPARK! is a technology incubator and experiential learning lab for student-led computational and data-driven projects at Boston University.

XR Terra, founded by two Boston University graduates Janet Kang and Hakan Satiroglu, is a workforce accelerator that trains learners in XR (Extended Reality – AR, VR and MR) technologies. Through innovative partnerships with XR industry partners and academic institutions, we are on a mission to empower the next generation of XR talent. XR Terra is a Unity Authorized Training Partner based in Boston, Massachusetts.

SOURCE XR Terra

Related Links

https://xrterra.com/