“The Innovation Vouchers provided a huge opportunity I never thought was possible—to work with experts and leaders in illustration, creative practice and immersive learning design.”

Dr Arun Verma is a nationally and internationally recognised leader in inclusion, intersectionality, and anti-racist practice. As Head of Inclusion at the University of London, his work has shaped local and global policy, education, and practice. His book, Anti-Racism in Higher Education: An Action Guide for Change, is widely used to support meaningful institutional change.

Through the support of the BIG Growth Innovation Voucher, Dr Verma worked with UAL to explore how anti-racism content from his book could be transformed into an immersive experience. The goal was to move beyond traditional learning models and instead create an environment where users could reflect, engage, and build empathy in a more interactive and inclusive way.

Working alongside expert illustrators and immersive designers, the team developed a compelling immersive prototype that brings the book’s ideas to life through narrative, space, and design. This collaborative process also produced an evaluative framework to support future user testing and inform next steps for scaling and development.

It marks the first time his work has been translated into a virtual learning environment, and while the product has not yet launched to market, the prototype is a major innovation for Dr Verma’s practice, introducing a new medium for anti-racist education and laying the groundwork for further funding opportunities and broader impact.

“The Innovation Vouchers provided a huge opportunity I never thought was possible—to work with experts and leaders in illustration, creative practice and immersive learning design. This opportunity has helped develop a prototype with the potential to become a market-ready product. Importantly, I feel this collaborative project has cultivated a fruitful relationship combining diverse expertise to create a product for a more inclusive society.” Dr Arun Verma commented.

The project represents a bold new direction in inclusive learning and a powerful example of how cross-sector collaboration can drive innovation for social change.

About the BIG Programme

Backed by the UK government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and led by London South Bank University (LSBU), the BIG, Business Innovation Growth Programme, is here to help you unlock your full potential.

This dynamic initiative is split into four tailored clusters, each focused on high-growth sectors: Health & Life Sciences, Net Zero & Nature, Experience & Visitor Economy and Creative & Digital. The programme welcomes start-ups, SME’s and community-interest companies in the following London boroughs: Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton, and Wandsworth. Find out more.