Goa Institute of Management (GIM) is bringing a new way of learning to its management students. The institute will use Virtual Reality (VR) in its Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) courses. This change will start from the 2025-26 academic year .
GIM is setting up special VR labs . These labs will be used in subjects like Marketing, Organisational Behaviour, Healthcare, and Services. The main aim is to give students a learning experience that feels real and helps them get ready for future jobs.
What is Virtual Reality (VR) in Simple Terms?
Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer technology that creates a fake world. When you use VR, you wear a special headset. This headset makes you feel like you are actually inside that digital world. You can look around, move, and even interact with things in that fake environment.
Think of it like stepping into a video game, but instead of playing for fun, you are using it to learn new things. It helps students practice different tasks in a safe, digital space, making lessons much more engaging and memorable.
How GIM Will Use VR for Learning
GIM's new VR lab will help bridge the gap between classroom studies and the real challenges managers face in their jobs. Students will get hands-on experience without actually being in a real-world situation.
For example, students can practice making difficult business decisions in a virtual company. They can learn how to handle different team situations or understand complex problems in healthcare services. This interactive experience helps students understand subjects better and become good at making quick decisions.
Skills Students Will Develop with VR
Using VR will help students develop many important skills needed for future jobs. These skills include:
- Cross-functional and Situational Judgment: This means learning to make smart decisions when dealing with different teams or unexpected problems.
- Rapid Scenario Analysis: Students will learn to quickly understand new situations and how to react.
- Tech-enabled Problem-Solving: They will use technology to find solutions for business challenges.
- Business Design Skills: Students will learn how to plan and create new business ideas using technology.
- Managerial Confidence: Practicing in VR will make students more sure of themselves when they become managers.
Expert Views on the New VR Initiative
Professor Ajit Parulekar , Director of GIM, explained the importance of this step. He said, "Future jobs will have many unseen challenges. Managers need to be ready for a world that changes very fast and requires complex decisions. GIM's VR program lets students practice these future challenges in a realistic setting. This builds the confidence that companies expect. This VR learning is a key step to make sure our graduates are ready for work from day one."
Professor Pravat Surya Kar , Associate Professor of Marketing at GIM, added that VR is a powerful tool for deeper learning. He said, "VR places students in difficult situations where their choices have real results. This helps them make better decisions. Students found the VR devices easy to use and thought the virtual practice was very interesting. They also want to explore more topics using VR."
This new VR program is part of GIM's plan to train future managers who are smart, quick, and skilled in many areas, just like today's industries need.
