Piloting AI-Augmented XR Interview Simulation for Behavioural Development in an MBA Employability Module: Bernie Burke
This presentation shares the design, use and evaluation of an AI-augmented XR interview simulation within LEAP, an employability module for MBA students at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. Delivered through the Wonda platform, the simulation was introduced as a structured learning intervention to explore how immersive simulation might support behavioural interview preparation in a realistic practice environment.
The simulation is underpinned by the LEAP employability framework, an employer-informed behavioural competency framework developed for the module and used to support its assessment and development approach. Students completed an immersive mock interview in which they responded to competency-based questions under timed conditions, reflecting the pace and pressure of contemporary behavioural interviews. Designed to simulate the feel of a formal interview encounter, the experience gave learners an opportunity to practise verbal responses in a more realistic and engaging setting than conventional written or discussion-based preparation alone. Each stage of the simulation was explicitly linked to a defined behavioural competency and a report incorporating a transcript was generated to support reflection, feedback and further development.
A key feature of the initiative was that the simulation was piloted alongside the module’s established human-led assessment and development process. This process includes psychometrically informed behavioural interviewing, calibration and developmental feedback. This enabled comparison between simulation output and fuller human judgement, highlighting stronger value in supporting learner development than in informing formal assessment.
The session will focus on three practical areas. First, it will show how the simulation was designed and used within the module, including the alignment between behavioural competencies, interview questions, learner preparation and feedback. Second, it will consider the developmental value of the experience for a diverse MBA cohort, including students with limited prior exposure to behavioural interviewing and those navigating new labour market and intercultural expectations. In this respect, the simulation provided a structured space for practice and preparation, particularly for students with less prior exposure to behavioural interviewing or unfamiliar recruitment contexts. Third, it will share implementation insights from practice, including what worked well, what proved more challenging, and what was learned from comparing simulation outputs with the module’s fuller human-led model.
The presentation will be relevant to educators, careers practitioners and learning designers interested in using XR in a focused, credible and learner-centred way. It suggests that AI-augmented XR interview simulation can make a valuable contribution to behavioural development when positioned within a broader pedagogy of reflection, feedback and professional judgement.
