Migrants to Learn Freedom of Speech through Virtual Reality Courses

Migrants from the world’s most dysfunctional cultures flocking to Sweden have difficulty understanding Western freedom of speech. To help them better understand this, newly arrived migrants are put in VR courses.

Researchers at the University West, in collaboration with the City of Gothenburg, are building two virtual worlds. In one, migrants will participate in simulated and real situations that are claimed to constitute discrimination, and in the other, they will engage in interactive exercises on Swedish freedom of speech ‘to understand their rights and obligations’.

– We are very enthusiastic about the potential of this project. By using VR technology, we hope to offer a more engaging and interactive experience that helps newly arrived third-country nationals better understand and integrate into Swedish society, says Amir Haj-Bolouri, professor of informatics and project manager at the University West.

The VR elements are part of a municipal course for newly arrived migrants, totaling 100 hours. The project is funded by the Swedish Migration Agency and the EU and will run for three years. It aims to improve social orientation.

The project is based on the pre-study ‘Social Orientation in Virtual Reality: Opportunities and Challenges’, which identified several so-called challenges that third-country nationals face when trying to understand topics such as freedom of speech and discrimination.

– Virtual reality has great potential in educational contexts, and we hope that the technology can become a permanent feature of social orientation, says Anders Boklund Ferreira, head of social orientation efforts in the City of Gothenburg.

Improved Integration

Through field studies, the project will analyze how VR technology contributes to a deeper understanding of freedom of speech and protection against discrimination, as well as the potential effects on integration efforts.

– The themes we have chosen are, of course, carefully selected. Understanding freedom of speech and discrimination is essential for promoting social participation and integration into Swedish society, but traditional classroom teaching has proven to be insufficient in conveying these subjects in a meaningful way. We are very curious to see if we can achieve better results using VR, says Amir Haj-Bolouri.