The learning tech landscape just got a shake-up. ETU, the global pioneer in immersive learning simulations, has officially rebranded as Skillwell and launched a next-generation AI platform designed to make corporate learning faster, smarter, and measurable.
At the heart of the rebrand is Skillwell Simulate, an AI-driven platform that builds personalized, real-world training environments for every learner. The system adapts to each employee’s role and performance needs—essentially serving as a flight simulator for workplace skills.
“Organizations can’t afford learning that lags behind real performance needs,” said Phill Miller, CEO of Skillwell. “With Skillwell, we’re harnessing AI to deliver tailored simulations in minutes and close persistent skills gaps.”
From ETU to Skillwell: The Next Chapter in Experiential Learning
The rebrand isn’t just cosmetic. It marks Skillwell’s pivot toward AI-enabled personalization and measurable skill mastery—two areas where traditional learning systems fall short.
Research from the Association for Talent Development (ATD) supports Skillwell’s approach: learners retain significantly more knowledge through experiential learning compared to passive instruction. In practice, Skillwell’s clients are seeing results that prove the point.
Across industries, organizations using Skillwell’s simulations report:
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20–50% increases in skill mastery, depending on role complexity
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Up to 15x faster training deployment versus traditional instructor-led programs
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Dramatic risk reduction, including a 97% drop in errors during simulated scenarios
Pharma giant Merck has been one of Skillwell’s flagship adopters, transforming compliance training from a checkbox exercise into a performance-based practice field.
“With Skillwell simulations, our employees don’t just complete training—they practice applying knowledge in the kinds of decisions they face every day,” said Keith Lillico, Strategic Learning & Development Leader at Merck. “We’ve seen higher engagement, stronger knowledge retention, and more confidence in navigating real-world situations.”
Learning That Keeps Up With Work
In today’s workplace, the half-life of a skill can be measured in months. Skillwell’s AI simulations allow learning teams to rapidly create and iterate scenario-based training that mirrors actual job challenges. The platform can analyze performance data to pinpoint capability gaps and provide quantifiable insights into workforce readiness—a level of granularity most Learning Management Systems (LMS) can’t touch.
By shifting learning from theory to performance rehearsal, Skillwell is aligning itself with a broader trend in HR and L&D tech: learning by doing, enhanced by AI. Rivals like Capsim, Strivr, and Mursion have been experimenting in similar immersive domains, but Skillwell’s focus on measurable skill outcomes and organizational scalability may give it an edge.
The Future of Corporate Learning Is Simulated
For L&D leaders under pressure to prove ROI, Skillwell’s approach offers something rare: data that links learning directly to performance outcomes. With its new identity and platform, the company aims to redefine not just how organizations teach, but how they measure human capability in an age of rapid transformation.
As the boundaries between AI, skills intelligence, and immersive learning blur, Skillwell’s bet is clear—simulation is the new standard for skill development.
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