Advancing education through virtual reality in the management and production engineering field of study

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the application of virtual reality (VR) as an innovative tool for education in the field of Management and Production Engineering. It aims to demonstrate how VR can be effectively integrated into laboratory classes to enhance students' learning experiences and practical skills. Additionally, the paper highlights the role of the teacher in guiding and supporting students in using VR technology for educational purposes. Design/methodology/approach: The paper utilizes a case study approach to examine the use of a specific virtual reality application in the field of Management and Production Engineering. The study involves the implementation of VR-based laboratory classes, where students engage in various training modules of the given selected VR application, including both theoretical and practical tasks in a simulated production environment. The methodology includes a presentation of the VR application's modules, the tasks for students, the organization of VR-supported laboratories, and the role of the instructor in facilitating the learning process. Findings: The study showed that it is possible to use virtual reality in higher education, especially in the context of classes in the field of management and production engineering. The possibility of creating and implementing VR applications that realistically reproduce the production environment and enable conducting training and classes for students of technical studies has been confirmed. The research results confirmed that VR is a practical tool for teaching production lines, technological processes, machine parameters, equipment operation, quality control, and safety rules in the production hall. All these elements can be effectively implemented under controlled conditions in the university, without the need for physical presence in the industrial plant. Originality/value: This paper offers a perspective on integrating virtual reality into laboratory classes within the field of Management and Production Engineering, highlighting its transformative potential for traditional teaching methods. The study emphasizes VR's value as a modern educational tool that enhances applied learning by providing hands-on practice in addition to theoretical knowledge, allowing students to engage actively and perform tasks independently.