Abstract Background We transitioned our obstetric neonatal emergency simulation (ONE-Sim) workshops to an online format during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we evaluated key learning acquired by undergraduate medical and nursing students attending the online ONE-Sim workshops from a low- and middle-income country (LMIC). Methods Student perception of online workshops was collected using electronic questionnaires. Data was analysed using thematic analysis by employing the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework. Results One hundred sixty medical and nursing students who attended the online ONE-Sim workshops completed the questionnaires. There was evidence in the data to support all three aspects of the CoI framework—social, cognitive and teacher presence. Conclusions The use of the CoI framework helped to describe key learning from online interprofessional simulation workshops conducted for a LMIC.