UK higher education is increasingly prioritising active learning approaches in the project management curriculum. To meet this need, the “Manage It.” initiative was launched, where students co-create a tailored project simulation tool informed by user input. Through focus groups with students and lecturers, this study explores expectations and preferences toward the development of a new relevant simulation and highlights challenges in existing simulation experiences. Key findings identify the demand for an intuitive interface, structured on-boarding, contextual diversity, strong links between the experience and the academic learning outcomes, scaffolded approach to progression and reflective feedback. The insights provide a foundation for designing student-centered simulation tools that enhance both engagement and learning outcomes in UK project management education.
Arnaudova et al. (Thu,) studied this question.