Virtual Reality (VR) is playing an increasingly strategic role in corporate training, particularly within industrial settings and in safety and ergonomics training. Immersive approaches make it possible to move beyond the limits of traditional learning, offering practical, safe, and highly engaging experiences. This is why EMPAIRED believes in its project: using VR as a concrete tool to improve safety and ergonomics through immersive, practical experiences.
In this interview, Francesca Bonelli, an expert in training and educational innovation, shares her experience with the use of VR, reflecting on real-world applications, concrete examples, and future perspectives on the evolution of immersive training.
Virtual Reality represents an evolution in the way we train: it does not replace traditional methods but enhances them.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and describe your professional role?
My name is Francesca Bonelli. I work as a consultant and learning designer specialising in training and educational innovation, and I am also the legal representative of ISI-Rife, a training organisation and service provider active in professional education, business consultancy, and the development of innovative projects.
ISI-Rife has grown through a long-term process focused on the quality of learning, on building strong connections between education and the labour market, and on an approach to innovation that is practical and meaningful. We design accessible and effective training programmes aimed at developing technical, transversal, and digital skills, with an increasingly experiential approach that also integrates emerging technologies such as VR.
What is your experience with the use of VR in training? Can you share a concrete example of VR applied in an industrial and/or ergonomic training context?
My first experience with VR in a training setting dates back to 2019. Since then, I have been involved in ongoing experimentation, research, and reflection, with the aim of understanding how VR can be used in a truly effective and purposeful way within education—beyond its purely technological or demonstrative appeal.
What initially started as curiosity quickly became a passion, leading me to explore the educational potential of VR, particularly in contexts where learning through direct experience is essential.
One meaningful example is the IMMER.SAFE – Immerse to learn, work to live project, where VR was integrated into industrial safety training. Participants were able to experience operational and risk-related scenarios in a safe, controlled environment, increasing both awareness and understanding of appropriate behaviours.
This project clearly showed that, when VR is carefully designed and embedded within structured learning pathways, it can become a strategic asset for training, making learning more engaging, memorable, and closely connected to real working situations.
How was this technology received by training participants?
Overall, feedback was very positive, although some initial hesitation emerged, mainly due to the novelty of the technology. Over time, however, I have seen VR become increasingly concrete and established within training contexts.
One aspect I found particularly meaningful is the way VR goes beyond being just a training tool. One comment from a participant made me reflect on its ability to bring different generations closer together, offering a common ground between those who are new to the world of work and those with long-standing experience.
In your opinion, what are the main advantages of VR compared with traditional training methods?
The key advantage of VR lies in its ability to move from a transmissive model of learning to a genuinely active and experiential one, where learners are no longer passive recipients but active participants in their own learning journey.
VR supports learning through direct experience, increasing attention and engagement, and making training more effective by addressing cognitive, emotional, and behavioural dimensions at the same time.
I particularly value the possibility of creating safe, non-judgemental learning environments, where people can experiment, make mistakes, and reflect on their actions. Virtual Reality represents an evolution in the way we train: it does not replace traditional methods but enhances them, making learning more meaningful and easier to transfer into professional practice.
Are companies ready to adopt this technology, and do you see the use of VR in industrial training continuing to grow in the future?
From my experience, organisations are at very different stages. Some are already strongly committed to using immersive technologies, while others are still observing and assessing their potential. The ecosystem is not yet fully mature, but interest and openness are clearly increasing, especially among organisations that invest in innovation and people engagement.
Access to funding opportunities plays a crucial role, as it helps reduce the initial financial barriers. Funded projects allow organisations to test VR in real contexts, evaluate its impact, and better understand its value, supporting a more gradual and sustainable adoption.
For these reasons, I expect VR to play an increasingly important role in learning and development in the coming years, becoming a more structured and familiar part of skills development.
Overall, what is your opinion on the use of VR for training in industrial and/or ergonomic contexts? Do you plan to continue using it in your training activities?
For me, VR really works when it supports learning rather than becoming the focus in itself. I find it most effective when it encourages people to actively engage, observe their own behaviours, and reflect on what they do, creating a clear connection with everyday professional practice.
This is whyI continue to work with VR in my training activities and invest time in developing it further, always with close attention to learning design and educational goals. I believe in training that leaves a lasting impression and leads to real, tangible changes in the way people work and relate to one another.
To anyone approaching VR today, I would simply suggest starting with curiosity and an open mind. Experiencing it firsthand is the best way to truly understand its potential.