BUas Media students win Edcom Graduation Award
Alumni Isa de Koeijer (Creative Business) and Laure Iannone (Master of Media Innovation) were named winners in the 2025 Edcom Thesis Competition. The competition, held annually among European universities that are members of Edcom, saw over 30 thesis submissions this year. Isa took home the award for her Bachelor's thesis, while Laure won for her Master's thesis. This prestigious recognition highlights the outstanding academic achievements of both students.
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Isa de Koeijer’s winning Bachelor's thesis, 360 Degrees of Scriptwriting: Finding a New Standard, explores the uncharted territory of screenwriting for Virtual Reality (VR). Through her research, Isa identified a gap in how VR scripts are written, prompting her to delve into 3D storytelling, environments, and volumetric capture. Her work has not only earned her top honours in the Edcom competition but also a deeper appreciation for VR’s power to foster empathy and connection. Isa expressed her gratitude for the support she received along the way, especially from 4DR Studios, Dutch Rose Media, and the academic community at Breda University of Applied Sciences.
Similarly, Laure Iannone’s Master’s thesis, Odour in VR: A Qualitative Study on the Value of Olfactory Stimuli to Enhance Presence and Empathy in the VR Project Being There, was recognised for its innovative approach to integrating scent into virtual experiences. Despite initial doubts from her supervisors, Laure’s determination led her to explore the potential of olfactory stimuli in VR, offering new dimensions of empathy and immersion. Her work not only won the Edcom competition but also brought visibility to the important cause of migrant women, linking her research to the ongoing discussions surrounding integration and immigration.