Sustainable development training by simulation of an industrial crisis

Abstract : Sustainable development education raises a problem of knowledge contextualisation. Therefore, the authors developed a situational role play which allows students to better link sustainable development theory with real life situation. In the role play, three stakeholder groups take position and negotiate while other groups observe, in three periodic rounds of negotiation. To evaluate training impacts, a survey was conducted. The results show that students appreciated the game-based approach. It allowed them to develop a systemic way of thinking and understand conflicts and positions of different actors while trying out a consensual process over a period of time.