The University of Gloucestershire has been awarded £2.5m by the Office for Students to open FutureSim – an AI-powered Centre of Excellence for Simulation and Technology-Enhanced Immersive Learning (TEL).

Opening at its Oxstalls Campus in April 2026, this major investment will transform the way students, professionals and employers experience simulation-based education, workforce development and digital practice.

FutureSim will bring together and expand the University’s existing simulation facilities into one integrated hub, featuring five modular zones designed to replicate real-world environments including clinical, community, forensic, custodial and outdoor settings. Existing buildings will be refurbished to deliver the new facilities in a way that is both environmentally sustainable and economically efficient.

The Centre will feature immersive environments, virtual patient pods and a Hydra command suite for crisis leadership, alongside state-of-the-art manikins, wearable technologies, XR/VR platforms and AI-enabled analytics. Learners will have the opportunity to practise, experiment and innovate in safe yet highly realistic environments that reflect the challenges and complexity of real-world professional practice.