You may have seen me before. Grey fabric, sturdy straps, and bold letters declaring “Minä olen Kamk.fi”. I am not just any backpack – I am the KAMK backpack. But today, I will not just sit quietly on a chair or lean against a desk. Today, I will tell you the story of how I traveled with my companions from the InnoXR project and LINK Team to Belgium in May 2025.
The Journey Begins
Our trip started with an early morning flight from Finland to Brussels. Packed with laptops, notes, and everything my humans needed, I carried the weight of both equipment and expectations. From Brussels, the smooth Belgian train system whisked us away to Mechelen and later to Leuven.
During the trip, I found myself in classrooms, simulation labs, conference halls, and even in the middle of lively tech demos. Everywhere we went, knowledge was exchanged, new practices were discovered, and future collaborations began to take shape.
Leuven – Learning Best Practices
Our first stop was UCLL in Leuven, where healthcare educators and staff welcomed us warmly. My humans were introduced to practical methods for organizing simulation training, such as using clearly labeled equipment sets to keep sessions structured and efficient.
We explored an immersive projection room that allowed students to step virtually into clinical environments and encountered escape room pedagogy in action, where even the most challenging topics became engaging learning experiences.
One of the most striking demonstrations involved empathy training. Weighted suits and vision-impairment glasses gave students the chance to experience the physical challenges of aging or disability. For my human, these simple yet powerful tools inspired new ideas on how student understanding could be deepened in Kajaani by integrating these tools with immersive technologies.
At the end of the day, it was our turn to contribute. When the WoundED game was presented, it drew praise for both its design and its impact on learning. The conversations that followed left me brimming with pride, as new possibilities for cooperation began to unfold.
Mechelen – The International Stage
The next day carried us to Thomas More University in Mechelen for the Immersive Technologies in Healthcare Training Conference.
https://thomasmore.be/en/immersive-technology-healthcare-training-itht
Here, the international research results of the WoundED virtual reality game were presented, giving my humans a moment of recognition.
The findings were encouraging. WoundED improved learning outcomes across all measured categories. Originally designed to support a wound care course at KAMK, the game also proved effective as a stand-alone teaching tool. The Belgian version required careful adaptation, with wound care protocols localized by adding the TIME system and removing tools not commonly used in Belgium. This highlighted the importance of cultural and professional context when developing educational technology.
The conference also opened doors to new ideas. I monitored closely as my humans explored AI-driven patient interaction simulations, clinical reasoning VR content that demonstrated conditions such as sepsis, and the use of wearable devices like RealWear smart glasses in home care and emergency settings. What impressed me most was the strong focus on implementation rather than constant reinvention. A philosophy deeply connected to the mission of the InnoXR project.
Coming Home with New Inspiration
As a backpack, my job is to carry things. But in Belgium, I carried more than just laptops and documents. I carried ideas, partnerships, and inspiration. I witnessed KAMK standing tall on the international stage, exchanging knowledge, and paving the way for new developments in immersive healthcare education.
When we returned home, I was a little more worn, my straps slightly looser, but inside me were the echoes of Belgium. New collaborations, shared expertise, and the determination to keep improving healthcare education through innovation.
I am more than a backpack. I am a witness, a carrier of knowledge, and now. A storyteller.