GIM Adds VR Lab to PGDM Programmes
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Goa Institute of Management (GIM) is pioneering a one-of-its-kind initiative in immersive and experiential learning in management education. The Institute is integrating Virtual Reality (VR) across its Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) programs.
Aimed at providing the students with immersive and multisensory learning environments, the lab has been formally introduced during the 2025–26 academic curriculum across Marketing, Organisational Behaviour, Healthcare and Services courses.
The initiative directly aligns with GIM’s mission to nurture future-ready managers equipped with the judgment, agility, and cross-functional skills demanded by today’s industries.
Speaking about the unique initiative, Prof. Ajit Parulekar, Director, GIM, said, “Considering the unseen challenges of tomorrow, it is essential for today’s managers to be prepared for a world defined with rapid change and complex decision-making. GIM’s VR initiative gives students the opportunity to practise navigating these future challenges in realistic environment, and build the confidence that employers expect. This module is an essential step in ensuring our graduates are industry-ready from day one.”
The VR lab in the GIM curriculum bridges the gap between classroom activities and the complex real-world challenges that managers face. The interactive experience of this lab will deepen the students’ understanding and strengthen their decision-making capabilities.
While traditional management education relies on case studies, videos and role-play exercises, this unique module advances these methods by allowing students to enter realistic environments that replicate market complexities, customer behaviour and operational challenges. To ensure efficient utility of the lab, GIM has installed more than 130 PICO and Jio headsets, supported by INSEAD’s VR library, Jio’s interactive environments, and custom-built, AI-assisted scenario tools and micro simulators.
Since its integration into the curriculum, over 750 GIM students across all PGDM programmes have participated in multiple immersive sessions.
Through VR-driven decision-making labs, virtual service encounters, hospital walk-throughs, market visits, and industry-specific simulations, students can redesign customer journeys, test managerial strategies, and experiment with business models in consequence-rich environments.
Speaking about the initiative, Prof. Pravat Surya Kar, Associate Professor, Marketing, Goa Institute of Management, said, “VR serves as a powerful tool for deeper learning – by placing students in complex, context-rich, consequence-driven environments – for enhanced decision-making capability. The students found the VR devices extremely easy to use, described the simulations as highly engaging, and expressed strong interest in exploring additional topics through VR-enabled modules.”
With its focus on experiential learning, the VR lab enhances the chances of student employability by building capabilities that companies value, such as:
· Cross functional and situational judgement
· Rapid scenario analysis
· Tech-enabled problem-solving and business design skills
· Managerial confidence
As the next step, GIM plans to expand VR integration into research on consumer behaviour, service operations, and Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) market immersion. Future initiatives include co-creation of VR experiences with industry, collaborative projects with hospitals and tourism partners, and immersive field studies with local enterprises in Goa.
