Business simulation games from the perspective of accounting and management professors: Implications for sustainability education in universities

This paper examines the use of business simulation games (BSGs) as a pedagogical tool to foster the interest of business students in sustainability education and address the challenges encountered by educators in utilizing these resources. The objective of this study is to examine the professors’ perspective regarding the role, benefits, and challenges of adopting BSGs in business and management faculties. To achieve the research objective, the article employs a thematic analysis based on semi-structured interviews with university professors employed at the largest economics university in Romania. Our results lend support to the pedagogical advantages of incorporating BSGs into higher education, highlighting the factors that contribute to the successful integration and implementation of such initiatives. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrates that BSGs serve as a medium for integrating sustainability concerns into business education curricula, despite identified challenges. The study offers valuable insights into the use of pedagogical tools based on experiential learning, with implications for professors, university administrators, and software designers in this field. • Business simulation games enhance student comprehension of sustainability concerns. • Educators can improve the learning process using simulations games. • The inclusion of sustainability issues into simulations may represent a challenge. • Student competence and soft skills can be developed through business simulation games. • Business simulation games enhance the preparation of students for the business world.