SIMU – The Simulation Centre of Masaryk University

Simulation where every second counts.

Simulation is gaining importance on an international level – particularly in Europe. A remarkable example: SIMU in Brno, the Simulation Centre of the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University, opened in September 2020. Modeled after real hospitals, the facility offers medical students the opportunity to deepen their theoretical knowledge through hands-on simulation training. With its wide thematic scope, strong academic integration, and innovative AV technology, SIMU sets new standards in medical education.

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.

From Vision to Flagship Project: The Making of SIMU

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.
SIMU Brno Simulation Centre interior: modern lounge with white modular seating on a red carpet and glass walls.
A high-tech medical simulation room at MUNI SIMU MED featuring a patient manikin on an operating table, integrated SIMStation recording monitors, and professional GE Healthcare anesthesia systems for clinical training.
A modern clinical simulation ward at MUNI SIMU MED featuring multiple patient manikins on mobile hospital beds, equipped with SIMStation ceiling-mounted cameras and bedside monitoring technology for medical training.
View through an open sliding door labeled 'Operating Theatre 1' at the MUNI SIMU MED facility, showing a realistic surgical simulation room with a patient manikin, surgical lighting, and integrated medical monitoring equipment.
A wide-angle view of a high-tech operating theatre simulation room at MUNI SIMU MED, featuring a patient manikin on a surgical table, integrated SIMStation monitors for recording, and professional overhead surgical lighting.
A medical team in teal scrubs at MUNI SIMU MED performing an intubation on a high-fidelity patient manikin, utilizing SIMStation recording technology for clinical skills assessment and team training.
A close-up of medical trainees in blue gloves performing a precision intubation on a high-fidelity patient manikin wearing a cervical collar at the MUNI SIMU MED training facility.
Two medical professionals in teal scrubs at MUNI SIMU MED transport a high-fidelity patient manikin on a mobile hospital bed during a realistic patient transfer simulation.
A medical team in teal scrubs at MUNI SIMU MED performing coordinated CPR and emergency airway management on a high-fidelity patient manikin, with real-time vitals monitoring displayed on an overhead screen.
An ultra-wide monitor at the MUNI SIMU MED control center displaying a SIMStation interface with multiple live camera angles and real-time patient vitals from a medical simulation ward.
A close-up of a tablet with a keyboard case displaying the SIMStation dashboard at MUNI SIMU MED, showing scheduling and recording management tools for medical simulation training.

Simulation as an Integrated Part of the Curriculum

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.

The Technical Side of Simulation

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 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.

Conclusion: Institutionalizing Simulation

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.