Professors Shijith Kumar and Melanie Fernandes, competing as Team SolEpic Lab, secured a Top 3 finish in the Spring 2026 SOL-AIMS AI Idea Competition, hosted by the Office of University Innovation (대학혁신본부) at Woosong University.

The competition brought together students, faculty, and staff to develop innovative artificial intelligence solutions addressing challenges in education, research, administration, and campus operations. Participants proposed AI-driven ideas across five strategic themes: Digital BioHealth, Agentic AI, Advanced Mobility, Global Hospitality, and Open Innovation.

Team SolEpic’s proposal, SOL-OPS GameLab, introduces a generative AI-powered framework designed to transform Operations Management education through immersive, customizable learning simulations. The project responds to a common challenge in business education: while traditional teaching methods effectively build procedural knowledge, they often provide limited opportunities for students to develop contextual judgment and decision-making skills in dynamic, real-world environments.

The proposed framework enables instructors to create tailored experiential learning simulations using generative AI and natural language prompting, eliminating many of the technical and financial barriers associated with commercial simulation platforms. Grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle, SOL-OPS GameLab combines faculty-driven simulation design with student-centered experiential learning.

Key features of the platform include:

• AI-assisted simulation creation using natural language prompts
• Customizable scenarios such as production scheduling and project management
• Interactive role-based gameplay
• Real-time dashboards and performance analytics
• AI-supported reflection and debriefing tools
• A reusable virtual simulation library that can be adapted across multiple business disciplines

By combining generative AI, experiential learning principles, and accessible design, SOL-OPS GameLab aims to strengthen students’ critical thinking, contextual decision-making, and problem-solving abilities while supporting faculty innovation in teaching. The initiative directly contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education by promoting innovative, inclusive, and high-quality learning experiences that prepare students with future-ready skills.

The recognition of Team SolEpic’s proposal highlights SolBridge’s continued commitment to advancing AI-enabled education and developing innovative teaching approaches that prepare students for increasingly complex business environments.