SIMU – The Simulation Centre of Masaryk University

A hospital without patients? Welcome to SIMU – the Simulation Centre of the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University in Brno!

Imagine a state-of-the-art hospital: emergency department, operating rooms, intensive care unit, dental clinic, helipad, and even its own ambulance. Spread across five floors and more than 8,000 m², this is a place of examinations, surgeries, and resuscitations – just without real patients.

That’s because at SIMU, all “patients” are simulated – ranging from high-fidelity mannequins and VR avatars to professional actors.

They enable realistic and safe training – from targeted skills sessions to interdisciplinary team scenarios. Mistakes are allowed here – and become valuable learning opportunities. So they don’t happen in real clinical practice.

The idea for SIMU was born in 2014: a fully equipped, simulated hospital serving as a dedicated training centre within Masaryk University. The goal was to create a space where medical simulation is not a supplementary tool, but an integrated part of the curriculum – methodologically, didactically, and structurally. Simulation was no longer to be reserved for a specialised niche but established as a universal training tool for all medical students.

The road to realisation was long. Years of planning were accompanied by extensive research and collaboration with international simulation centres. Implementation required close cooperation between experts in architecture, medicine, research, technology, and academia. Supported by the European Structural and Investment Funds, the centre was completed by the summer of 2020 – an ambitious project that today stands as a leading European model for medical simulation.

In its first year alone, SIMU welcomed around 3,000 students – today, that number has grown to as many as 6,000 annually. These figures speak for themselves: simulation has become a core element of medical education at Masaryk University. Pedagogically, SIMU embraces active participation over passive lectures. Through group work, hands-on exercises, and independent learning, students engage directly with course content. Instead of traditional lecture halls, the centre features open learning spaces designed to foster interaction, collaboration, and teamwork – with learning by doing at the heart.

This progressive approach is also reflected in the curriculum: from semesters 1 to 6, many medical subjects are taught directly at the simulation centre. In practical fields such as intensive care nursing, up to 80% of training time is spent at SIMU. Course content is developed collaboratively by faculty professors and simulation experts, ensuring alignment with academic goals. The result is a seamless integration of theory and practice – positioning the centre as a cornerstone of modern medical education and training.

To ensure that both students and faculty gain the maximum benefit from training, SIMU relies on video-based recording and debriefing systems by SIMStation. A combination of custom-configured AV solutions – both fixed and mobile – enables efficient control, live transmission, and post-simulation analysis. Technical planning was carried out by AV Media Experts, with installation by the AVT Group. The international recognition speaks for itself: the project received the GPA Excellence Award in 2022 and was nominated for the Inavation Award in 2023.

A look at the numbers reveals the impressive scale:

• A 25-member technical team, including 3 AV specialists, manages ongoing operations.
• 56 simulation rooms, 11 control stations, 7 debriefing rooms, and 1 mobile SIMStation Control Unit are in daily use.

• All three SIMStation product lines – Enterprise, Pro, and Essential – are deployed, running the latest SIMStation Software 6.0.
• A central server infrastructure supports the setup, with a dedicated server room and 6 specialized audio servers.
• Equipment includes 11 PTZ and 48 IP cameras, 32 boundary microphones, 28 wireless participant microphones, 14 media screens, VoIP phones, digital speakers, and patient monitors.
• Additional highlights: 24 high-fidelity mannequins, over 13 simulation beds, 14 VR simulators, plus an ambulance and CT simulator.

SIMU consistently stays at the cutting edge – both technically and educationally. The equipment is continually expanded and upgraded. One clear example: SIMStation Software 6.0 was implemented at SIMU prior to its official release in 2022, reinforcing the centre’s role as a pioneer in simulation innovation.

SIMU is more than just a simulation centre – it positions itself as a driver of innovation in medical education. The aim is clear: to establish simulation not as an add-on, but as an integral component of the curriculum – methodically, structurally, and with a global perspective.

From Mandatory to Meaningful
At Masaryk University, simulation is a core part of the medical curriculum. All students participate in compulsory training sessions – across all medical disciplines. Close collaboration between SIMU and university departments ensures seamless integration of theory and practice.

Connected, Research-Driven, Future-Focused
As a European best-practice centre, SIMU advises international simulation projects, hosts global delegations, and actively fosters exchange through English-language programmes and international residency models.

Expanding the Impact
In 2022, SIMU launched the PhD programme “Healthcare Simulation”, embedding simulation into academic research. This initiative promotes the transfer of expertise, methodology, and impact, helping other institutions establish simulation-based education strategically and sustainably.

A Model for Europe
SIMU represents a visionary approach to medical education – proving that simulation can become a pillar of quality assurance in healthcare. More than just an outstanding educational facility, SIMU stands as a European flagship project with international influence.