The Role of Digital Twins and Virtual Reality in Enhancing Experiential Learning for Supply Chain Operations

In engineering education, many students fail to understand how to handle the dynamic complexity of the modern-day supply chain, which is why the theory–practice gap persists. To overcome this, we conducted a mixed-methods quasi-experimental study (N = 78) on the pedagogical effectiveness of a custom-designed digital twin (DT) and virtual reality (VR) learning platform. In the study, we focused on students’ conceptual understanding and operational decision-making skills in both DT/VR-enhanced and traditional instructional environments. Results provide evidence that the conceptual learning gains under the DT/VR intervention were significantly higher (Cohen’s d = 1.17), and that operational performance, such as the order fulfillment rate and response time to a simulated supply chain disruption, was also superior. The qualitative analysis revealed that the immersive environment promoted student engagement, perceived realism, and problem-solving confidence. This platform supports the effectiveness of outcomes aligned with Kolb’s experiential learning cycle and its cognitive load management. The results of this study support the hypothesis that using both DT and VR technologies can bridge the gap between theory and practice and provide an expandable pedagogical framework to help educate engineering students with industry-ready skill sets.