Simulation games and business sustainability. Systematic and cross-cultural review
Keywords:
Active learning, Sustainable development, Education for Sustainable Development, Simulation game, Educational game.Abstract
Objective: Simulation games are currently becoming established as pedagogical tools for teaching corporate sustainability. This systematic review aimed to synthesize recent scientific evidence (2022-2025) on the use of these games in training for sustainable business management, with an intercultural approach. Methodology: Following the PRISMA guidelines, 30 studies published in Spanish, English, German, French, and Portuguese were selected, using as a differentiating criterion the inclusion of non-digital games linked to the competencies described by UNESCO within the framework of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Results / Discussion: The results are organized into six dimensions: game typologies, areas of application, didactic and assessment value, relationship with UNESCO competencies, barriers to implementation, and the teacher's role as a facilitator of these games. Their pedagogical effectiveness is demonstrated in different regions of the world, and their greatest contribution lies in the development of systems thinking and collaboration. Conclusions: It is concluded that these contextualized and interculturally informed analog formats constitute valuable tools for mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in business education. Their success requires the design of approaches adapted to each educational context and a firm commitment to specialized teacher training. Originality / Value: Future lines of research are identified, including comparative and longitudinal studies on the impact of this methodology.
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