The Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin, TD, today officially opened the new XR Hub developed by Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) at Sligo College of Further Education and Training.
MSLETB also acknowledged the attendance and continued support of Frank Feighan TD, Eamon Scanlon TD, Martin Kenny TD, Councillor James Gilmartin, Councillor Fergal Nealon, Councillor Mary Bohan and Councillor Seamus Kilgannon, recognising their ongoing support for Further Education and Training, regional innovation, and skills development initiatives across the Northwest.
The XR Hub is a regional centre for immersive technology, digital innovation, and future-focused learning. The facility supports learners, educators, employers, and communities in exploring practical applications of technologies including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), robotics, 3D printing, podcasting, digital twinning, and AI-supported tools.
The Hub was developed to bridge the gap between emerging technologies and their real-world application across education, training, and industry, with a focus on digital confidence, inclusion, and workforce skills development. It is also home to the proposed Immersive Technology Apprenticeship, currently in development and subject to validation.
Speaking at the launch Minister Marian Harkin, TD said:
“I am delighted to open the new XR Hub today with MSLETB, this investment will help to equip learners, educators, and communities with the digital skills and confidence needed for the future. It will also give learners from Youthreach, TY, Community Training Centres, Foróige, and the wider community the chance to experience learning in a different way. This new facility in Strandhill will deliver new opportunities for collaboration between education and industry, enabling Sligo to become a centre of immersive technologies skills.”
Mr. Tom Grady, Chief Executive of Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board, said:
“The XR Hub reflects MSLETB’s commitment to creating modern, future-focused learning environments that respond to the evolving needs of learners, educators, employers, and communities. This development represents a significant investment in regional skills, innovation, and collaboration, helping to ensure that people across the Northwest have access to the technologies and opportunities shaping the future of education and work.”
Ms. Iris Kerssebeeck, XR Hub Manager and Interim Programme Manager – Immersive Technology Apprenticeship said:
“Immersive and emerging technologies have the potential to transform how people learn, train, and engage with information. The XR Hub provides a practical and inclusive space where learners, educators, and industry can explore these technologies in meaningful ways while supporting new approaches to communication, training, simulation, and workforce development. It is exciting to see this vision become a reality here in Sligo, creating a space where people can explore, learn, and imagine what comes next.”
To find out more about the XR Hub and programmes available through Sligo College of Further Education and Training, visit www.sligocfe.ie