The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has taken a bold step into the future of tech-driven education with the launch of the Centre for Advanced Learning Technologies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (CALTSTEAM).

This initiative reaffirms UJ’s role as a leader in digital innovation, showcasing its dedication to transforming education through the integration of frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and machine learning across the STEAM disciplines.

The launch, held at the Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Nadine Petersen, who used her welcome remarks to highlight the societal impact the center has already started making.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the launch of this very exciting Centre. This Centre’s work, and that of the Faculty, is about innovation, and the infusion of technology to make an impact on society. The work we do has an impact on teachers, practicing teachers and we are grateful to have the schools we collaborate with there today. To our provincial Department of Basic Education colleagues, we hope that what you see today will contribute to how we can all think differently about making use of these technologies in school subjects, in particular school subjects in the school curriculum,” she said.

The Centre’s director Professor Umesh Ramnarian shared the story of CALTSTEAM, and how the Centre hopes to make meaningful change in the South African education landscape.
“The mandate for CALTSTEAM is to be responsive to the many challenges we face in society, particularly within STEAM education. We know there are major challenges in learning mathematics and science. Unfortunately, as a country, we have the unenviable reputation of performing near the bottom in international benchmarking assessments, such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS),” he said.

He continued: “My background is in science education, so I am passionate about exploring how we can uplift the quality of STEM education. One of the driving forces behind the establishment of this Centre was the potential of technology to support and enhance the teaching and learning of maths and science.”

Prof Ramnarian also spoke about the Centre’s bold vision to nurture the future generation of scholars in the STEM fields.

“We want to inspire current and future generations to pursue higher education and careers in STEM. Our aim is to contribute to building a strong pipeline of future academics and innovators in these critical areas.”

In a compelling demonstration of “show, not tell,” various members of the CALTSTEAM team showcased the Centre’s innovative work, including:

• Revolutionising Teacher Training: UJ’s Bachelor of Education (BEd) students are gaining a significant advantage through hands-on experience with VR and AR within their curriculum. Through CALTSTEAM, these pre-service teachers (PSTs) conduct microlessons in virtual reality classrooms thus preparing them for the future of instruction.
• Empowering In-Service Educators: Recognising the need to upskill current teachers, CALTSTEAM offers a targeted Short Learning Programme (SLP) for qualified Life, Physical, and Natural Sciences educators. This programme equips them to effectively integrate VR and AR into their lessons, deepening student engagement and understanding. Participants also learn to critically assess and select the most suitable VAR applications for specific learning goals.
• Driving Societal Impact through coding: CALTSTEAM’s soon-to-be-launched XR Online Coding Club is already generating excitement. This outreach initiative introduces high school students and their teachers to immersive XR technologies which includes VR, AR, and Mixed Reality (MR). Students learn coding and essential technical skills through a flexible, self-paced online module.
• Culturally-anchored virtual and augmented reality simulations (CAVARS): The Centre is conducting groundbreaking research on creating culturally relevant VR and AR simulations for school science education. These simulated experiences merge cultural knowledge and practices with key topics from the school curriculum.

UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, closed the event by reaffirming the university’s position as a leader in integrating 4IR technologies into education.

“By launching this research Centre, UJ positions itself as not only a participant in the evolution of STEAM education but also as a thought leader and trendsetter in the field of advanced learning technologies. Toward the end of last year, we launched our new strategic plan that takes us to 2035, anchored in the pillars of ‘societal impact and sustainability’. In this regard, all UJ activities, including research, teaching, learning, and collaboration, are aimed at bettering society and promoting sustainability,” said Prof Mpedi.

He concluded by pledging the full support of the broader University community for CALTSTEAM and encouraged other faculties to collaborate with the Centre.

“I am thrilled to officially open this Centre and look forward to seeing how we continue to reimagine the future of education through it,” he said.

Watch the full launch event below: