First of all it would be nice to understand the roles to be simulated, who is involved to make the simulation a reality and what the dispatcher will gain at the end of the say 3 month simulated dispatch.
Simulated roles,
1. Computerised flight planning: Basic (A software that has a performance database, Navigation database, that can fairly accurately deduce fuel requirements as per ICAO legal fuel requirements based on prevailing WX conditions. There are many such applications that are suitable for training and very similar to what is used in real life, i.e Sabre, SITA/Graphlite LIDO e.t.c
Some suggested training applications.... Cost less than 30 euros FSBUILD very accurate, and I have compared the results with Graphlite/SITA plan.
2. Generation of WX and NOTAMS : this is available through many free websites pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/pilotweb/
aviation weather.gov/adds/tags/
3.Communication: this is available through teamspeak software. Many other softwares to simulate Data transmission FSACARS.*
Who is involved.
1. Dispatch Students and instructors to make sure the simulation is following ICAO ISARPS*
2. Flights networks like VATSIM, IVAO has over 500000s user combined who fly very sophisticated simulators and for very organised virtual airlines run by real pilots, controllers and other aviators alike which people say are games but as a pilot with 3000 hrs and a dispatch background these networks have a great potential. There are more than 2 million flights recorded over a span of 5 years or so....there will be many flights to dispatch . I suggest a trial of this network before anyone shoots it down.*
VATSIM - The International Online Flying Network: Welcome to VATSIM,
www.vataware.com*
What will be gained.
After real tertiary dispatch training, a 3 month intensive simulation like this under the watchful eye of a licences dispatcher will prepare a dispatch student further and he will be ready to work from day one of employment. Further training with the airlines on specific software will be so much easier and hardly necessary. A simple manual will be good enough. Or 2 day course at most.
But it will need regulation from authorities to make sure it serves it's purpose which is why I brought this suggestion.