KARMA Lab, Koç University

KARMA Lab, Koç University

Our pledge
Projects that we have carried out with our program partners allowed us to develop a versatile XR skill up training program corpus and a network of trainers in our region. For example in 2019 when we established KARMA Lab with the Istanbul Development Agency grant we trained 80 people over 8 months targeting more specific needs of the creative industry talents.
In 2022 we supported an IPA project called “Designing The Future With Gifted” TREESP2.1.IQSES/249K12 we tailored a different curriculum for K12 teachers working with gifted children. We delivered a 96 hours training in Denizli to 15 teachers and helped them setting up an XR lab and integrating XR into their teaching,
This year, for an other IPA project called “XReation of Future” TREESP1.3.FoW/P-03/190, we are training 120 people with a comprehensive curriculum of 200 hours.
We have also started a collaboration with Meta and Habitat (a local NGO creating networks of volunteers) to train XR trainers in our region, so far we have trained 20 volunteer teachers. We are joining the pledge with the ambition to scale this project up and reach 500 talents in different regions of Turkey within 2025.

About
Koç University’s KARMA XR Lab was established with funding from the Istanbul Development Agency in 2019. While we conduct research on the use of Immersive Tech in socially beneficial areas such as Education, Heritage and Healthcare, we also develop and deploy upskilling trainings for XR.
We are in close contact with policy makers in Cultural, Education and Technology Ministries, Big tech company representatives in our region such as Meta, Microsoft, NGOs such as UNDP, private companies such as Koç Holding and SMEs and artist studios practicing XR.