VR experience provides immersive learning for soft skills training in higher education 

Global academic publisher Sage and virtual reality (VR) platform provider Bodyswaps have collaborated to introduce a new series of innovative VR simulations designed for business students and related fields who need to master the art of negotiation and conflict management. 

Sage's Senior Director, Library Editorial, Michael Carmichael, said, "We are excited to continue our partnership with Bodyswaps to launch this new series of VR modules and are pleased to offer another comprehensive educational technology solution to help students succeed at college or university. Research has informed us that VR can facilitate a deeper learning experience by engaging a physical, mental, and emotional connection to the content, which can support students' skills development such as their empathetic, problem-solving, and decision-making capability."  

This VR experience was created with the input of Dr. Kevin Rockmann, professor of Management at George Mason University Business School and co-author of the Sage textbook Negotiation: Moving From Conflict to Agreement. “Central to any negotiation or conflict management course is giving students personalized, real-time, actionable feedback,” said Rockmann. “The VR experience allows students in synchronous courses a superior experience because it delivers the tailored feedback that in-class, stressful, time-constrained exercises do not. It also delivers the immersion and focuses on relationships that are largely absent from asynchronous courses.”  

The experience includes three modules—Laying the Groundwork for Negotiation, Approach and Mindset, and Gaining Influence and Value in Negotiations—each approximately 25 minutes in length. Users are presented with life-like avatars playing the roles of VR coaches to help facilitate self-reflection or illustrate best practices. Additional characters engage in real-life negotiation scenarios to encourage knowledge and skills development via repeated practice. Unique to this experience is the incorporation of AI-powered feedback and the opportunity to review interactions from the perspective of the other party, offering valuable learning opportunities. 

The launch of the Negotiation and Conflict Management VR experience represents an advancement in business education, offering students a unique opportunity to develop and refine essential soft skills that will carry them into their professional lives. The complete experience is accessible to students and faculty at participating institutions through Bodyswaps' VR Learning platform.  

Christophe Mallet, CEO and co-founder of Bodyswaps, emphasized the importance of this partnership and new release, stating, "Our continued collaboration with Sage underscores the significance of combining technological and educational expertise to create impactful learning experiences. We look forward to contributing to an educational landscape where immersive technologies deliver measurable outcomes for students, at scale, and cost-efficiently." 

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About Sage 

Sage is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources with a growing range of technologies to enable discovery, access, and engagement. Believing that research and education are critical in shaping society, 24-year-old Sara Miller McCune founded Sage in 1965. Today, we are controlled by a group of trustees charged with maintaining our independence and mission indefinitely.  

Our guaranteed independence means we’re free to: 

Do more — supporting an equitable academic future, furthering disciplines that drive social change, and helping social and behavioral science make an impact 

Work together — building lasting relationships, championing diverse perspectives, and co-creating resources to transform teaching and learning 

Think long-term — experimenting, taking risks, and investing in new ideas 

About Bodyswaps 

Bodyswaps is an award-winning VR platform that brings realistic simulations and AI-enabled feedback to soft skills training. Learners can practice and fail safely without repercussions while building the communication, teamwork and leadership skills needed for successful careers. Since 2019, London-based Bodyswaps has helped a wide range of educational institutions and corporate clients to unlock human potential in the workplace.