iStream: Higher Education programmes on Immersive journalism approach

The iStream project is an Erasmus+ cooperation initiative (KA220-HED) designed to modernize journalism education by introducing immersive, technology-driven approaches into higher education. The project brings together a consortium of universities and academic partners working collaboratively to rethink how journalism is taught, learned, and practiced in a rapidly evolving digital environment.

At its core, iStream responds to the transformation of the media landscape, where storytelling is becoming increasingly interactive, visual, and audience centered. The project promotes the integration of immersive technologies including virtual reality, augmented reality, and 360-degree media into academic programmes, enabling students and faculty competencies to experience and promote news rather than simply consume it. This shift supports deeper engagement and opens new possibilities for communicating complex social, cultural, and scientific topics.

The main objectives of the project are:

• to improve knowledge, skills and competences of curricula developers to develop and integrate academic training paths focused on immersive journalism
• to improve knowledge, skills and competences of Higher Education teachers and trainers necessary to implement academic courses related to the profile of the immersive journalist.
• to raise awareness of the potential of the use of immersive technologies in the communication and media sector

Project Deliverables

The iStream project has produced concrete results where a key result is the iStream Competence Framework, which defines the professional profile of the immersive journalist in terms of knowledge, skills, and competences. This framework provides a basis for curriculum design and ensures alignment with the evolving needs of the media and communication sector.

Building on this foundation, the project has developed a structured academic curriculum, designed as a flexible one-year programme that can be integrated into bachelor, master, and postgraduate courses. The curriculum combines theoretical knowledge and practical training to support the development of immersive storytelling projects.

To support teaching and implementation, the iStream Syllabus offers pedagogical guidance, teaching materials, and methodological approaches for delivering immersive journalism education. In parallel, the iStream Lab Guidelines provide practical instructions for establishing and managing immersive journalism laboratories within higher education institutions, including technical and organizational recommendations.

The project also includes an International Training Course, aimed at strengthening the technical and methodological competences of educators and learners in the use of immersive technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and 360-degree media. Finally, the establishment of an iStream Community of Practice promotes collaboration among academic institutions, researchers, and professionals, fostering knowledge exchange and supporting the long-term sustainability and dissemination of project results.

Within this framework, Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM), Italy plays an active role as a project partner, contributing its academic expertise and research perspective to the development of the initiative. The involvement of UNIVPM strengthens the interdisciplinary dimension of the project, particularly in linking communication, digital innovation, and applied research. Through its participation, UNIVPM supports the testing and adaptation of immersive journalism approaches within its own educational context, while also engaging in knowledge exchange with other European partners along with University of the National Education Commission, Poland, Learnable, Italy, University of Nicosia, Cyprus, and Infinitivity Design Labs, France.

Visit the project website: www.istream-project.eu.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Fundacja Rozwoju Systemu Edukacji. Neither the European Union nor Fundacja Rozwoju Systemu Edukacji can be held responsible for them.

Project n. 2024-1-PL01-KA220-HED-000254186