Teaching International Business Using Virtual Reality

Abstract

ABSTRACT New generations of International Business (IB) students include the Centennials, also known as Generation Z. These students have experienced their whole life in a virtual and physical reality. They learn differently than previous generations and have an even shorter span of attention than Millennials. We – IB educators – need to acknowledge these changes in students, and propose new educational solutions that keep on preparing them to succeed in the international arena. In this paper, we suggest Virtual Reality (VR) as an innovative, cheaper and effective alternative solution to make IB students practice competencies. Based on Experiential Learning Theory, Social Cognitive Theory and Generational Theory, we offer ideas of several VR applications in the field. As an example, we describe an ongoing VR project using avatars to make students practice negotiation and intercultural communication. We report its preliminary findings. Paper ends with a discussion on VR teaching implications. Today, when multinational organizations are increasing the use of state-of-the-art technologies, initiatives like this can contribute to make IB students to exercise digital competencies too.