As Simulações em Relações Internacionais como Ferramenta de Ensino: da sala de aula à comunidade universitária

Simulations of international organizations are a commonly used tool in International Relations courses to support the teaching-learning process or in extension projects. The active learning methodology of simulation involves analyzing both real and simulated situations, combining instruction based on theoretical cases with practical exploration of international issues. This encourages students to reflect on concepts, theories, decisions, and strategies, helping to develop crucial skills for professionals in international relations. This article, following its theoretical foundation, discusses the potential and limitations of this technique, its application as an evaluative activity in curriculum courses, and as a complementary activity. To evaluate the outcomes of the project implementation, experience reports and self-assessment questionnaires were utilized. The main findings reveal that: 1) complementary activities saw greater student interest due to their voluntary nature, while the mandatory nature of evaluative activities led to resistance in student engagement; 2) evaluations by the organizing committee are generally more positive (compared to those by delegates), due to their direct involvement and the personal and educational benefits derived from participating in the project; 3) a thorough prior study of official documents is recommended to prepare for authentic negotiations and resolutions during simulations, along with a combination of theoretical and practical content for more effective learning. Overall, most participants believe that the experience enhanced their learning regarding theoretical content and international relations concepts.