Developing new skills with escape games

Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences tests innovative learning format

Traditional lectures with frontal teaching are largely a thing of the past at many universities. More modern learning methods tend to focus on engaging more actively with the content, thereby acquiring additional skills alongside specialist knowledge. At Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, students developed an escape game for the first time across different degree programmes in the compulsory elective seminar ‘Vocational Education for Sustainable Development (BBNE) – Development and Testing of a BBNE Escape Room’ in the summer semester of 2025. On the way to completing the game, they not only learned a lot about their topic, the forces of nature, but also about project management, design and working with people from other disciplines. 

Many people are probably familiar with escape games from game nights with friends. Solving the puzzles requires a lot of logical thinking – and sometimes thinking outside the box. If the group works well together and communicates effectively, they will ultimately achieve their goal. For around six years, Karen Albers has been exploring how this can also be used for knowledge transfer. She develops so-called ‘educational escape games’ on various topics and is writing her doctoral thesis on which design elements of escape games can influence learning outcomes. Her BBNEscape project aims to create escape games for companies and vocational schools. ‘Vocational training for sustainable development, for example, is about how companies can become more attractive to trainees and retain their employees in the long term through sustainable and future-proof structures,’ she explains. Escape games allow players to practise action and problem-solving in a playful way. This also activates the players' self-determination.

Since the summer semester of 2025, Karen Albers has been offering the seminar ‘Vocational Education for Sustainable Development (BBNE) – Development and Testing of a BBNE Escape Room’ at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. There are no long lectures on the theory behind educational escape games. Instead, the motto is: learning by playing. "During my studies, I myself sat in classes where the teachers talked a lot about theory. I wanted to do things differently. My inputs last a maximum of twenty minutes. And at the beginning of the semester, the first thing we did was play an escape game. This is a great icebreaker for a group that doesn't know each other yet," says Karen Albers. She was supported by her long-time colleague Thomas Kunze from the Games Institute Austria, who taught most of the basics digitally and was available to answer questions. During the semester, the students worked independently. They coordinated their tasks themselves, searched for an overall theme for their escape room together and developed puzzles for it in small groups. ‘It was important that the methods used to solve the puzzles did not overlap. The students came up with the story themselves and also took care of the design,’ the lecturer continues. Not only is this fun, it also promotes the students' soft skills, such as creativity and teamwork. 

Even though the course is about games, it does not come without exams, of course. "The students write reflections on the seminar in which they describe what they have learned or critically reflect on what could be improved, among other things. They were also able to decide for themselves whether they wanted to work on the film about the course, maintain the project's LinkedIn channel or work on a research question," explains Karen Albers. The students have already tested their escape game. At the annual summer conference of the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership programme, they invited participants to play – with great success. ‘The game was well received. And the reactions were very interesting for the students. They themselves knew how to solve the puzzles. They found it very exciting to see how others came up with the solutions and where they had to think longer.’

The seminar is offered as part of the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership degree programme. However, it can be taken as an elective by all students at the university. This is a special feature. ‘Normally, interdisciplinary seminars are offered as part of the general studies programme. It is rather unusual for a course from one degree programme to be open to all students,’ says Karen Albers. But this has a major impact on the skills that students acquire in the seminar. "Diversity is an asset because it allows students from different disciplines to approach the tasks in different ways. Some of them were surprised at how different ways of thinking can be. They will also experience this in their future professional lives." The seminar will also be offered this winter and the coming summer semester. Escape rooms for vocational training in sustainable development will then also be developed.

BBNEscape is part of the joint project BBNE Lobby. With the BBNE Lobby Bremerhaven, Oldenburg and surrounding areas, it aims to promote and strengthen the attitude of regional players towards regenerative business practices. Through experimental and innovative formats, exchange formats and connecting dialogue, we strengthen the players in the training system, both in companies and in education, as well as in chambers and among multipliers who want to help shape sustainable change. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth as part of the programme ‘Sustainable in the workplace – future-oriented training’.