Project Overview and Objectives

The SIMNPACT Project is committed to the systematic advancement and innovation of pedagogical methodologies in healthcare education by leveraging Interprofessional Simulation Education (ISE). By fostering authentic, simulation-based learning environments, the project facilitates collaborative engagement among educators and healthcare professionals from diverse fields including home care, palliative care, mental health, and geriatric care. The central objective is to cultivate cross-disciplinary knowledge exchange, foster mutual learning, and inspire the development of novel, practice-oriented solutions. Moreover, SIMNPACT seeks to fortify inter-institutional networks within the European higher education landscape, promoting sustained collaboration across the healthcare education sector.

A distinguishing feature of the project is the integration of Extended Reality (XR) technologies, which augment conventional training methodologies. SIMNPACT not only explores the pedagogical potential of XR but also aims to create a research-informed SIMNPACT Toolbox, accompanied by specialized training programs. These resources are designed to support the implementation of ISE within healthcare-related academic curricula, thereby driving a paradigm shift towards interprofessional, cooperative learning from the outset of formal education.

Benefits and Implementation Strategy

ISE has emerged as a pivotal component of modern healthcare curricula, equipping nursing and medical students with the competencies necessary for effective interprofessional collaboration. Through immersive, simulated scenarios—mirroring real-world contexts such as home care and palliative services—students gain critical insights into the roles and responsibilities of their peers, refine their teamwork capabilities, and enhance decision-making processes in collaborative settings.

Despite its benefits, integrating ISE into higher education systems presents notable challenges, including the need for context-specific scenarios, qualified facilitators, and institutional buy-in. To address these obstacles, the SIMNPACT project is developing a digital toolbox comprising practical resources, validated simulation scenarios tailored to specific care settings, and structured debriefing formats.

This toolbox is being developed in close collaboration with partner institutions across Europe, ensuring the inclusion of diverse perspectives and a solid experiential foundation. Both physical and XR-based simulations are incorporated, reflecting the evolving landscape of healthcare education technologies. The project’s primary stakeholders—lecturers, curriculum developers, and students—play a central role in informing the design of a comprehensive implementation framework. Pilot studies conducted across four participating countries will demonstrate ISE’s effectiveness in enhancing interprofessional collaboration and addressing curricular deficiencies. Ultimately, the project seeks to empower not only students with innovative learning methodologies but also educators with tools to design and facilitate advanced ISE modules. The program will culminate in a series of webinars and in-house train-the-trainer workshops, consolidating the project's educational and research impact.

Expected Outcomes and Impact

Simulation-based learning constitutes a foundational element of healthcare education, and SIMNPACT extends this paradigm through the integration of interprofessional simulation. By embedding ISE within existing curricula, the project provides a safe, immersive environment—including XR-supported simulations—where students can develop both technical and non-technical competencies, such as communication, teamwork, and leadership skills essential for future clinical practice.

ISE encourages students to gain a nuanced understanding of their professional roles and those of their colleagues, thereby fostering mutual respect and interdisciplinary expertise. The outcomes of SIMNPACT will significantly contribute to preparing healthcare students for the complexities of collaborative clinical practice, ensuring that future professionals are equipped to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care in increasingly complex healthcare environments.