THE IMPACT OF VIRTUAL REALITY(VR) SIMULATION ON WAREHOUSE LOGISTICS EDUCATION: A CASE STUDY OF DIPLOMA IN LOGISTIC AND SUPPLY CHAIN STUDENTS

Abstract

The rapid evolution of the Fourth Industrial Revolution necessitates a paradigm shift in vocational education, particularly in logistics and supply chain management. Addressing the limitations of traditional and theory-heavy teaching methods, this quantitative study investigates the efficacy of ‘VirtuLogix’ a 360-degree virtual reality simulation tool, on diploma students enrolled in logistics and supply chain courses. The research adopted a pre-experimental, one-group pretest and post-test quantitative design to measure operational competencies. Data was collected from a sample of twenty-three students using a structured five-point Likert scale instrument before and after the virtual reality intervention. Inferential statistical analysis, including paired-sample testing, revealed highly significant improvements across all measured competencies. Furthermore, effect size analysis revealed very large practical effects, indicating a substantial educational impact. The findings strongly support that virtual reality simulation is a cost-effective and safe pedagogical tool that successfully bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industrial application. By providing a hands-on experience that is deeply immersive, the simulation served as an interactive teaching and learning tool that simplifies the explanation of complex technical skills. Ultimately, this approach significantly reduced the financial budget required for student transportation to physical industrial sites and eliminated the safety risks associated with bringing large student groups into active operational warehouse.