1. A method comprising: importing a first data set of welding quality parameters, being representative of a quality of a weld generated by a student welder during a real-world welding activity corresponding to a defined welding process, into a virtual reality welding system having a mock welding tool and a mock welding coupon; comparing a second data set of welding quality parameters stored on the virtual reality simulator, being representative of a quality of a virtual weld generated by the student welder during a simulated welding activity corresponding to the defined welding process on the virtual reality welding system, to the first data set using a programmable processor-based subsystem of the virtual reality welding system; and generating a numerical comparison score in response to the comparing using the programmable processor-based subsystem of the virtual reality welding system.