IE University wins MERIT Award for Eye in the Storm Virtual Reality Experience for students

IE University has won the MERIT Awards "Innovation in Higher Education and Learning" category for its VR + Multimedia Role Play experience "Eye in the Storm Simulation: Your Role in Climate Change Action."

"We are thrilled that Eye in the Storm has won the Innovation in Higher Education and Learning category at this year’s MERIT Awards Summit."
Isabela del Alcázar, Chief of Sustainability at IE University

"This recognition highlights our commitment to place sustainability as a key element of the educational experience at IE University and to our focus on developing responsible leaders who are capable of making a positive impact on the world," said Isabela del Alcázar, Chief of Sustainability at IE University.

"Eye in the Storm" is an immersive experience developed by Isabela del Alcázar and Gonzalo Delacámara, Director of the IE Center for Water & Climate Adaptation, in collaboration with IE University's Digital Learning team. The virtual reality experience that places students in the middle of a powerful hurricane, the consequences of which trigger the need to act on climate change. The aim is to raise awareness of the severe impact of climate change on our planet and our economic and social development. After the virtual reality session, students participate in a guided role-play in a multimedia environment where they analyze climate challenges from different points of view. The educational experience ends with a class discussion on mitigation and adaptation policies.

This innovative educational experience uses virtual reality, interactive digital content and immersion as catalysts for learning, illustrating the Liquid Learning methodology applied at IE, as well as promoting critical thinking in students. Thousands of students in IE University's Bachelor's, Master's and Executive Education programs have used 'Eye in the Storm' since its launch at the end of 2022. 

"Eye in the Storm" has already garnered significant attention, recently being recognized by the Financial Times and its 2024 Responsible Business Education Awards and was shortlisted for the QS Reimagine Education Awards in November 2023. Watch the video trailer for “Eye of the Storm” here.

MERIT is an initiative for corporate and L&D leadership, launched in 2016, that leverages individual experiences, business intelligence, and academic and non-academic research to empower leaders and their organizations to reach strategic goals and make the most of in-house potential through learning, exchange, and benchmarking. The annual Merit Awards (The MERITS) focus on awarding impactful transformational initiatives.