Upstander being used for research

📊 Research & Impact: Upstander VR

Upstander VR has attracted international research interest as a tool for addressing bullying and cyberbullying.

• Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium) — Prof. Dr. Martijn Van Heel has proposed using Upstander in collaboration with the Hanoi National University of Education to study how students’ attitudes toward aggression, bullying behavior, and empathy shift before and after the VR immersion.

• The research design includes pre- and post-questionnaires and aims to generate scientific evidence on the effectiveness of VR in anti-bullying education.

• Findings could support broader use of VR for social-emotional learning and lay the groundwork for future programs on related topics (e.g., violence, extortion, or student-created VR content).

• A short video/summary of the experience has been requested to aid integration into teacher workshops and school information sessions.

This collaboration highlights how Upstander is more than an immersive story—it’s a research-based intervention that combines storytelling, empathy, and digital innovation to foster measurable change in student behavior and mindset.