Media Release
Udupi, Apr 21: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 14 with MedisimVR, a pioneering company in Virtual Reality (VR) solutions for medical skills training.
The MoU marks a significant step forward in integrating immersive technologies into medical education. The MAHE-MedisimVR will drive cutting-edge research in VR for healthcare and medical education, enable skill development, establish a VR skill lab in the campus, and foster innovation through various activities.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sharat K Rao, pro vice chancellor - Health Sciences reiterated that MAHE’s commitment to technological innovation in medical education and outlined its vision for the future of VR integration in curriculum and skill development. Highlighting the initiative Dr Giridhar Kini, registrar of MAHE highlighted VR’s role in enhancing student engagement.
Providing context to the collaboration, Dr Sambit Dash, a senior faculty at Department of Basic Medical Sciences -MAHE (DBMS-MAHE) highlighted the transformative potential of VR in enhancing the clinical skills and competency-based training. Dr Harish Kumar, director - Corporate Relations at MAHE, elaborated MAHE’s expanding industry-academia collaborations, while Dr Vimal Krishnan, head of emergency medicine at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, shared insights into the ongoing VR-related research initiatives at MAHE.
Dr Adith Chinnaswamy, co-founder and chief operating officer of MedisimVR, presented an overview of the company’s VR capabilities and solutions, emphasizing their alignment with evolving educational needs.
Senior faculty of DBMS-MAHE Dr Ullas Kamath, Dr Bincy George, Dr Arvind Pandey, and Snigdha Mishra, who are part of the larger academic and research community driving innovation in extended reality at MAHE, were present on the occasion.
The formal signing of the MoU took place following the presentations, cementing a collaborative roadmap for research, development, and implementation of VR-based training modules in health sciences education.
About Manipal Academy of Higher Education:
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University. MAHE offers over 400 specializations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In October 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 4th in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and an enriching campus life, as well as for national & multi-national corporates looking for top talent.