The collaboration of Skills^VR and New Zealand’s Ministry of Social Development (MSD), highlights how immersive learning can support public policy objectives while delivering measurable outcomes. Rather than positioning technology as a solution in search of a problem, this partnership exemplifies how immersive learning can be thoughtfully integrated within government strategies to address unemployment and national upskilling demands.

Reframing Employment Readiness Through Immersion 

During 2022, the VR Job Expo initiative has become a key engagement mechanism between MSD and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. These regionally delivered events allow participants, particularly job seekers and school leavers, to explore immersive modules simulating a range of industries, including Construction, Tourism, Water Operations, and Security. The format invites participants to trial occupational environments safely, and in doing so, encourages both interest and self-reflection.

“The idea is that people might consider an opportunity they hadn’t before, and that they will have a clearer idea of what’s involved in the work.”

— Craig Churchill, MSD Nelson Regional Commissioner (Stuff NZ)

While the use of VR attracts attention, the underlying pedagogical design, experiential, low-barrier, and locally responsive, is what drives the success of these expos. Many attendees have secured interviews and job offers through the expos, highlighting how immersive learning can function as both a training and recruitment touchpoint.

Validating Learning: Micro-Credentials in Context

In order to transition from experience to employability, Skills^VR and MSD introduced a suite of micro-credentials and digital badges that capture skills development in communication, teamwork, health and safety, and more. These badges are aligned with competencies valued by employers and can be added to CVs or employment profiles.

Since September 2024, a Digital Badging System is available across all Skills^VR learning experiences on the MSD Enterprise Platform. Participants who complete a module can opt to receive a digital badge by email, providing tangible proof of training experience and increasing motivation and engagement.

By embedding these credentials within the VR learning pathway, the  initiative ensures that skills gained are not only recognized but communicable across systems—an essential feature in fragmented or non-linear employment journeys. 

Measuring Impact: Data and Outcomes

This partnership is noteworthy not only for its scope but for its evaluative maturity. Key results include:

These outcomes demonstrate that immersive learning can act as a supplement to formal education and training and also as a standalone modality for rapid upskilling, particularly where learners face time, confidence, or accessibility barriers.

Extending Access and Equity

One of the strongest arguments for government investment in immersive learning lies in its capacity to reach underserved groups. The Skills^VR x MSD partnership has seen disproportionately high participation rates from Māori, Pasifika, and regional learners, largely due to the mobility of the VR delivery and the flexibility of the format. In this way, immersive learning becomes an equity tool: capable of accommodating multiple learning styles, bypassing literacy barriers, and  encouraging early engagement among youth “Not in Education, Employment, or Training” (NEET).

With support from MSD, Skills^VR also developed the Digital Embassy: an initiative focused on future readiness for rangatahi (young people) through virtual mentoring, skills exploration, and soft skills development. Framed as a social infrastructure, the Digital Embassy for Kiwi youth offers a rare blend of innovation, inclusion, and strategic alignment with youth employment goals.

This initiative functions as digital social infrastructure promoting confidence, cultural connection, and future readiness.

Strategic Takeaways for Public Sector Stakeholders

The MSD–Skills^VR model suggests a promising blueprint for integrating immersive learning within government systems. For ministries, agencies, and public employment services, key insights include:

Rather than displacing existing systems, VR training can accelerate what governments already do well: creating fairer, faster, and more meaningful learning pathways.

What’s Next: The “Refresh & Renew” Phase

The successful outcomes of the MSD and Skills^VR partnership have laid the groundwork for the next evolution in delivery: Skills^VR Mobile. Currently Skills^VR is developing Mobile Virtual Reality capabilities to enable access to most VR modules via mobile phones and personal computers. This will ensure:

Skills^VR Mobile will be available mid-late 2025, marking a strategic leap toward a truly inclusive and scalable model of immersive workforce development.

Concluding Reflections

The Skills^VR x MSD case exemplifies how governments can strategically adopt emerging technologies in ways that are inclusive, measured, and grounded in service of public value. For jurisdictions navigating the complexities of unemployment, youth disengagement, or uneven access to training, immersive learning provides a proven, pragmatic toolset.

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