Vr4Empathy brings immersive learning to the Tessaloniki International Fair

What happens when virtual reality meets one of Greece’s biggest public events?

At the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), visitors of all ages had the chance to step into the world of VR4Empathy and experience immersive learning first-hand!

From 5 to 13 September 2026, the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) represented VR4Empathy at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair, bringing the project’s virtual reality experience to thousands of visitors at the Academia Section, alongside the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports.

With 202,854 visitors, 1,000 exhibitors, 25 participating countries and 11 thematic sections, this year’s TIF provided a unique opportunity to showcase how immersive technologies can contribute to more engaging and inclusive learning experiences.

🌲A journey into the Slovenian forest

At the IEP stand, visitors were invited to put on the VR4Empathy headsets and explore the Slovenian Forest through an immersive virtual reality experience.

Four headsets were available throughout the exhibition, with equipment rotated to ensure that fully charged devices were always ready for the next visitor. After just the first day, the VR experience had already attracted attention across the exhibition, with visitors and exhibitors specifically coming to the IEP stand to discover the headsets.

And the reactions? They spoke for themselves!

Children, young people, parents, teachers and adults up to 70 years old stepped into the virtual environment. Families experienced the technology together, friends explored the virtual forest side by side, and visitors enthusiastically shared their impressions.

The experience also sparked meaningful conversations. Parents of neurodivergent children were particularly interested in exploring how immersive experiences could be perceived by their children, while teachers visited the stand to learn more about the potential of VR in their classrooms.

The VR experience was not simply something to watch – visitors became part of the experience”

🎓From the exhibition floor to the classroom

The presence of VR4Empathy at TIF went beyond the headsets.

Visitors could explore the VR4Empathy website, resources and network on a dedicated laptop, while project materials and a trailer introduced the initiative to an even wider audience. A leaflet featuring the VR4Empathy logo and a QR code also gave visitors an easy way to discover more about the project and connect with its resources.

The interest from educators was particularly encouraging. Teachers, parents and students expressed their interest in seeing immersive learning technologies used as part of education, opening up new conversations about how VR can complement traditional teaching methods.

And there is even a little piece of VR4Empathy that will continue its journey beyond TIF: the project leaflet included a wall calendar, meaning that the VR4Empathy logo will now be present in classrooms and teachers’ common rooms throughout the academic year.

🌎Connecting VR4Empathy with new audiences

The exhibition also created opportunities to connect with organisations and professionals interested in the potential of immersive technologies.

Among the visitors to the stand was the Senior Account Manager of AWS for Greece, Cyprus and Malta, who was introduced to the VR4Empathy network and the possibility of future engagement.

At the same time, IEP promoted the project through its social media channels, tagging the VR4Empathy accounts and sharing links to the project website and network registration form.

These interactions helped extend the project’s reach beyond the exhibition itself and introduce VR4Empathy to new potential members and stakeholders.

💡Immersive technology, real reactions

The experience at the 90th TIF highlighted something central to VR4Empathy: immersive learning can create opportunities for people to experience, explore and connect in ways that go beyond traditional learning environments.

The enthusiastic reactions from younger visitors, the curiosity of families and the interest expressed by teachers and education professionals showed the potential of VR to spark conversations about new approaches to learning.

With more than 200,000 visitors attending this year’s Thessaloniki International Fair, VR4Empathy had the opportunity to reach an exceptionally diverse audience – and to demonstrate that immersive learning can be relevant to learners of different ages and backgrounds.

From the Slovenian Forest to classrooms across Europe, the journey of VR4Empathy continues! 🌲🥽🌍

Discover the VR4Empathy project, explore its resources and join the network to stay connected with the future of immersive learning!

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