DCU Virtual Reality Lab

Transforming the way we learn and teach

The Colm Delves Leadership Lab is a creative learning space in DCU Business School. This virtual reality space offers over 2,000 DCU Business School students an opportunity to learn and develop leadership skills each year by using cutting edge virtual reality and telepresence technologies. Over 1,000 post-primary school students also benefit through an outreach programme with DCU Access.

DCU COLM DELVES LEADERSHIP LAB LAUNCH JB6

The lab was established with philanthropic support from Digicel, to honour business leader and DCU alumnus Colm Delves who made a long lasting contribution to the university through support for the DCU Access Programme and the establishment of the Digicel Summer Internship Programme.

WHERE IS IT?

The Colm Delves Virtual Reality Lab is located on the ground floor of DCU Business School on DCU Glasnevin Campus.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

Wearing advanced VR headsets and hand controllers, students will be immersed in VR-enabled simulations to help them better understand concepts by actually living them out. Students will apply theory to practice in areas such as interview preparation, public speaking, leadership communication skills and diverse and inclusive decision making. Students can also participate remotely in workshops using telepresence robots.

Professors will be able to develop customised experiences for their students, such as bringing students to places in the developing world so they can become more globally aware leaders by understanding challenges associated with business development in unfamiliar countries, or allowing students practice ethical decision-making and experience outcomes based on the decisions they choose to make.

HOW CAN YOU BOOK?

To book the Virtual Reality Lab please contact mixedrealitylab@dcu.ie

WHO IS COLM DELVES?

As a member of DCU’s alumni community, Colm had maintained close connections with the University and served on the DCU Educational Trust Council of Trustees since 2018.

Colm was a well-known business leader, admired for both his commercial successes and his humility. After graduating from DCU with a degree in Accounting and Finance, he went on to qualify as a chartered accountant and quickly rose to the position of Chief Financial Officer with Hibernia Foods plc, a position he held from 1993 to 2003.

In 2004, Colm joined Digicel as its Chief Financial Officer, and was later appointed CEO in July 2005, a role which he held until January 2018.

At the helm of Digicel, Colm initiated the company’s support for DCU’s Access Scholarship Programme, which has enabled hundreds of students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a third level education at DCU.

Colm also established the DCU Digicel Summer Internship Programme, which has provided over 20 DCU Access students with the opportunity of a life-changing summer internship with Digicel in the Caribbean.

A big believer in giving back, Colm, along with his wife Paula, also established an endowed Access scholarship fund at DCU in 2018.

COLM DELVES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

A bursary awarded in perpetuity to support exceptional students who need financial support to pursue postgraduate study in DCU Business School. Find out more.