Serendip was an experimental learning environment that used artificial
intelligence and virtual reality to support sustainability education at
the University of Helsinki. Developed as part of the Global Campus
project (2022–2024), Serendip explored how immersive technologies can
help students understand complex sustainability challenges and develop
the skills needed to create positive change.
Serendip received several awards for its innovative approach to
sustainability education, including the Hamar UNESCO City of Media Arts
Award, Best XR Experience for Education at the VRINN Awards 2024, and
Creative AI Implementation of the Year at the AI Finland Awards 2024.
Visuals, video and game mechanics: Jussi Wright — lead developer & design
In Serendip, learners entered interactive simulations built around
major climate and sustainability themes. AI-powered characters,
realistic virtual environments, and research-based learning tasks
guided students through a series of episodes, each designed to
strengthen specific sustainability competencies, including systems
thinking, futures thinking, values thinking, strategic thinking, and
collaboration.
The first episode, Boreal Forest, introduced learners to the
connections among forest ecology, forest economies, Indigenous Sámi
cultures, and human well-being. It was also offered as a registered
course at the University of Helsinki until May 2026.
Other planned episodes focused on drylands, rainforests, and oceans,
combining scientific knowledge, local perspectives, and practical
problem-solving. Through these environments, students developed as
sustainability change agents: people who can understand complex
systems, imagine better futures, and act toward them.
EPISODES
BOREAL FOREST
DRYLAND
RAINFOREST
OCEAN
Serendip was co-created with professors, researchers, and students
across the university community. The project brought together
expertise in sustainability science, digital pedagogy, psychology,
XR development, and AI-supported interaction, demonstrating how
emerging technologies can open new possibilities for higher
education.
Many experimental approaches developed through Serendip, including
the use of pedagogical AI, continue to inform teaching at the
University of Helsinki and beyond.