Youngsters across Scotland are to have access to state-of-the art virtual work experience at the touch of a button, thanks to a new internet-based 3D simulation.
A series of workplace simulations are being created to allow young people to carry out interactive tasks in business sectors which may not always be accessible to them.
Careers Scotland Highlands & Islands Enterprise, who first came up with the idea for a 'virtual work' experience, have developed the project with a number of partners - BT Scotland, Learning Teaching Scotland, Skills for Business and the Executive's Determined to Succeed division.
The product was 'road-tested' by Dunfermline 's Queen Anne High School pupils who were given a sneak preview of the virtual worlds whilst in development last year.
At a launch event in Glasgow today, Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen stressed the importance of giving young people the fullest access to knowledge of the world of work.
Mr Stephen said:
"Determined to Succeed, our strategy for enterprise in education, makes clear the value of good quality work experience. Virtual work experience should supplement and never substitute the benefits of one or more work placements for every pupil.
"The Virtual Work Experience product being launched today, if properly used, will give young people access to a range of quality work experience opportunities not previously possible. Individuals will be able to access jobs that really interest them.
"As Virtual Work Experience will be accessible from school, home and from community centres there are real opportunities for parents, teachers and carers to get involved as well.
"Virtual Work Experience will complement not replace traditional placements, increasing the scope and scale of opportunities available to our young people. It will open their eyes to new opportunities and expose them to new ideas which I hope will positively influence their future career choices."
The 'virtual world' product will be rolled out to all secondary schools in August this year.
Bob Downes, BT Scotland Director, said:
"What excites me about this project is the way in which gaming technology and broadband have converged to help the pupils of today prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. And because it's virtual, it can beam a variety of workplaces into rural Scottish schools where remoteness might otherwise preclude pupils from experiencing the full range of work on offer in our larger towns and cities.
"Much has been said about how broadband can be used to shatter the distance barriers that can blight communities living on the periphery in Scotland . Today, we unveil a tangible example of that technology in action. Thousands of new customers are signing up for the service every week in Scotland and I'm convinced that broadband and the applications we run on it, like the virtual workplace, will play a huge role in shaping the way we work and play, today and in the future."
Catriona Eagle, Careers Scotland director, Highlands and Islands , said:
"I am delighted that we are launching the Virtual Work Experience programme today. The programme began with a project in the Highlands and Islands in response to the challenge of providing a good range of opportunities to experience the world of work for young people in our large and dispersed region.
"From relatively small beginnings, we have been able to work with our key project partners - the Scottish Executive and BT Scotland - to create a product that has enormous potential for enhancing and supplementing the real work experiences that are available."
Bernard McLeary, Chief Executive of Learning and Teaching Scotland, said:
"Learning and Teaching Scotland is pleased to be able to help by providing a technical 'hosting' service for the Virtual Work Experience worlds. It is envisaged that these will eventually become part of the resources offered via the forthcoming Scottish Schools Digital Network. This is an excellent example of different agencies working together in partnership to develop an engaging, stimulating resource that will be valued by young people, their teachers and parents, and Scotland 's employers.
"We cannot underestimate the potential of this resource. Young people will be better prepared for actual work experience placements; they can use the virtual worlds to sample work areas not readily accessible to them or that they would not normally consider."
Mark Fisher, Chief Executive of the Sector Skills Development Agency, which funds and champions Skills for Business, the UK-wide network of Sector Skills Councils said:
"Obviously, work experience is very useful for young people when they are deciding what to do when they leave education. But it's equally important for employers, helping them to ensure the skills their business needs are the skills they get. I'm delighted that employers have played a leading role in the development of the Virtual Work Experience worlds, through the network of Sector Skills Councils. This product will ease young people in to the world of work through a medium with which they are already familiar, and will complement the range of 'real life' work experience opportunities currently available to young people in Scotland ."
Virtual World Sponsors include: Contact Centre (Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise Tayside); Hairdressing & Beauty World (HABIA and Highland Skills Fund) and NHS Trauma World (Scottish Executive's Health Department and Skills for Health).
Determined to Succeed is an £86 million long-term Executive strategy, published in March 2003, which aims to prepare all young people for the world of work through enterprising and entrepreneurial learning, work-based vocational learning and appropriately focused career education. There are teams in place throughout all 32 Scottish local authorities to ensure delivery from 2003 - 2008. | 
