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How can game technology create more well-being among students at Aalborg University?
This question served as the starting point for a project undertaken by a class of first-semester students in AAU’s Medialogy program this semester. As a result, the students created games designed to strengthen the building of social relationships, help other students plan their student life, and reduce stress.
Increasing challenge of supporting students’ wellbeing at universities
These years universities have an increasing challenge in offering a study environment that enhances the wellbeing of their students. AAU’s department of Student Guidance is receiving an increasing number of inquiries from students facing challenges such as difficulties starting their studies, lack of motivation, exam pressure, stress, anxiety, and depression.
Many students experience problems finding their place in the community, navigating in the student culture and dealing with collaboration and group formation. Life crises and mental disorders are also among the challenges that affect students’ well-being.
Three workshops were the starting point for innovative solutions
Challenges like these were the focus of a project assigned to first-semester students in AAU’s Medialogy program in the fall of 2024. To kick off the project work, their teacher had developed three workshops together with Innovation Consultants working on the Game Tech Academy Project at AAU’s Student Entrepreneurship department.
In the first workshop, AAU Student Guidance gave a presentation about the typical challenges and opportunities they see among AAU students. The Medialogy students then worked on exploring the problem and finding possible angles for their respective project .
In the second workshop, the students learned about different methods for involving the target group and testing their assumptions about what AAU students need.
The third workshop gave the students the opportunity to present their results end get feedback from each other. The rest of the semester was spent writing the project, based on the challenges and opportunities the students identified during the three workshops.
From idea to reality
At the third and final workshop, the students presented several innovative solutions. One group focused on how a digital solution could help students with their mental health and create better social relationships. They came up with an interactive game designed to support young people in dealing with depression and building stronger social relationships. The game creates space for reflection and gives users practical tools to improve their well-being.
Another group worked on developing a technological product that could help students structure their student life and reduce stress. They developed a learning game that, through realistic scenarios, helps students reflect on daily choices and learn stress management in practice.
“Seeing the students tackle real challenges and develop usable solutions shows how much value game technology combined with entrepreneurship and innovation can create – not only in education, but also in everyday life,” says Jesper Helleskov Sørensen, innovation consultant at AAU Innovation.
The course has clearly shown us how the students, with guidance along the way, can combine game technology with a practical approach to mental health and stress management. These are ideas that can both inspire and create value for the university environment of the future.
The solutions live on at AAU
At the end of the semester, AAU’s Student Guidance gets insight into the students’ project work. This allows the best solutions to possibly be implemented and make a real difference for AAU students in the future. By integrating students’ innovative ideas, AAU can involve the target group itself in creating a more supportive study environment, where technology plays a central role in improving the mental health and well-being of students.
Contact
With questions about Medialogy or other activities at Aalborg University , please contact Jesper Helleskov Sørensen at jhs@adm.aau.dk
With questions about Game Tech Academy, please contact Luisa Geitmann-Mügge at luisa.geitmann-mugge@aalborg.dk.
