Game4Change Conference

Game4Change Conference – 25-26 March 2024
Rotterdam Business School, the Netherlands

This event is part of a project funded by the European Union. The following organisations participate in this project:

• Technische Universität Dresden, Germany (Project Lead)
• Akademia WSB, Poland
• DOBA Business School, Slovenia
• Fachhochschule Dresden, Germany
• Rotterdam Business School, part of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
• University College Leuven-Limburg, Belgium
• Businet – Global Higher Education Network, Belgium

Monday 25th

On Monday, the sessions explored the role of corporate gamification and playful organizations, the power of simulations in developing professional skills and immersive learning, and the importance of entrepreneurship as a driver of resilience and social change in Nigeria. Participants also joined an interactive journey through the Game4Change project, reflecting on the successes and challenges of integrating gamified elements into 21st-century entrepreneurial education.

- Opening by the Dean of Rotterdam Business School
- Welcoming our guests and opening speech by the Dean of Rotterdam Business School.
- Simulation as Story – Using Gamification to turn Students into Heroes
- Simulation as a concept in gamification offers two things: immersive, activating models for thinking and systems that facilitate stories. From war games, drills and flight simulators, to analogue and digital role-playing games, simulations let us centre and examine the actions and motivations of students in ways traditional teaching has a hard time achieving. The best simulations let students try out their skills, develop professional personalities and gain a sense of achievement. Just like the best stories teach, move and inspire us.
- Total Game Changer: Blending AI, Business and Game Mechanics
- This talk is meant for entrepreneurs, educators, and innovators looking to stay ahead of the curve. It will unveil innovative techniques in business education that leverage AI assistants, simulations, and learning scenarios that go beyond the traditional use of chatbots. Also learn about the transformative effects that AI can have on leadership and management.

Tuesday 26th

On Tuesday, the focus shifted to practice-oriented applications of game thinking. Workshops encouraged participants to design inclusive and engaging learning experiences inspired by principles of game design, to reimagine traditional case studies as interactive games, and to share insights from piloting the Next Generation Entrepreneurship course, with a focus on evaluation, research, and future development.

- Introduction to the Game4Change project
The Game4Change project is a project funded by the European Union. Its aim is to prepare business students for the future labour market, through gamified courses on Next Generation Entrepreneurship. It also seeks to provide a methodology, toolkits, training and guidelines for usage of gamification in various fields of business education (BE) to teachers and learning designers in a global context.
- Beyond Gamification: Game Thinking
- Every game designer knows this truth: if a game isn’t worth playing, redesign it. While gamification often revolves around manipulating players’ behavior with points and badges to keep them playing the same old game, Game Thinking focuses on making the game itself more inclusive and engaging. Join me as we look at education through the lenses of a game designer and unlock an exciting realm of possibilities.
- Enjoying Studies Together through Play
- What if we could increase the enjoyment students experience when studying? What if we can enhance their motivation, skill development, resilience, and knowledge retention? What if students that play and study together also train social skills and build stronger bonds in their study journey?