Promoting Education for Sustainability Through Game-Based Learning: Using the Sustainable Strategies Game to Improve Students’ Knowledge and Skills of Sustainable Business Practices

Abstract

The need to ensure that learners acquire the knowledge and skills required to promote sustainable development and evolving preferences for experiential and collaborative learning within higher education are reshaping approaches to education for sustainability. In response the sustainable strategies game seeks to provide experiential game-based learning and teaching for business sustainability within Worcester Business School. The sustainable strategies game aims to stimulate collaborative engagement in business strategy making that promotes sustainability literacy skills, the adoption of sustainable practices, the sustainable use of common resources (freshwater) and encourages students to explore the equitable sharing of benefits gained from the use of this generic resource. This paper presents qualitative evidence from research conducted into student perceptions’ of the effectiveness of SSG as a new way to learn and think about business sustainability. It utilises the HEA framework for engagement through partnership and the framework for engagement in game-based learning and teaching to explore the value the sustainable strategies game has for experiential and collaborative learning for education for sustainability and its ability to engage students in the complexities of integrating social, environmental and economic impacts of consuming natural resources within business operations. The findings suggest that the sustainable strategies game provides an entertaining learning environment that challenges sustainability thinking and behaviours and encourages students to engage with the key principles of business sustainability and investigate business strategies that carry less impact on society and the environment.