Innovative Recruitment Technology Revolutionizes Public Safety Sector
In a groundbreaking move, Lethbridge College has embarked on a cutting-edge research project that could redefine recruitment practices within the public safety domain. Through the fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR), this study aims to assess police applicants' ethical decision-making capabilities by immersing them in real-world scenarios.
Dr. Kirsten Fantazir, the college’s President’s Applied Research Chair in Public Safety, highlighted the project's collaborative nature, bringing together seven different police agencies and services across Canada, from British Columbia to Ontario. The initiative stems from a concerted effort to understand and address challenges related to retention and recruitment within the sector.
Tyler Heaton, industry liaison, research adviser, and lead designer of the program, emphasized the authenticity that VR brings to the simulation of real-life situations, bypassing the limitations of role-playing or actor involvement in traditional recruitment processes. Coupled with AI characters, this innovative approach allows for dynamic interactions, enabling recruits to exhibit personal behaviors in a variety of scenarios.
“The reason we’re using virtual reality is it allows us to create a very authentic environment,” explained Heaton, stressing the importance of offering nuanced dilemmas rather than clear-cut right or wrong answers to evaluate an applicant’s judgment and ethical considerations in complex situations.
School of Justice instructor and researcher, Dave Maze, cited the outdated nature of conventional recruitment methods, such as behavioral interviews and aptitude tests, suggesting that they no longer meet the evolving needs of police agencies. Applied research in recruitment practices offers a valuable opportunity to identify and overcome these challenges, potentially paving the way for more suitable candidates.
The project also aims to create a more inclusive recruitment process by reducing reliance on traditional, paper-based exams, which may inadvertently filter out capable applicants. Participating agencies have been actively providing feedback, with the research team focused on validating the effectiveness of this novel approach in identifying ideal candidates for the public safety sector.
This research underscores the significant potential of combining AI and VR technologies to revolutionize recruitment practices, not only in public safety but potentially across various sectors, by facilitating a deeper understanding of applicants' capabilities and ethical decision-making in real-world contexts.
Analyst comment
Positive news. The innovative recruitment technology combining AI and VR is expected to revolutionize the public safety sector. The project’s collaborative nature and focus on addressing challenges in retention and recruitment suggests a positive impact on the market. The use of AI and VR technologies can potentially be adopted in various sectors, paving the way for more effective recruitment practices.
