From Engagement to Achievement: How Gamification Impacts Academic Success in Higher Education

Gamification is being increasingly applied in various contexts, including higher education, to enhance student engagement and academic performance. Despite the growing body of empirical research on this topic, questions remain regarding its effectiveness in improving tangible academic outcomes. This study explored the impact of gamification on 1056 university students in Business Management through two controlled quasi-experimental settings. Official academic performance indicators were used to assess the influence of gamification on results. The findings demonstrate significant positive effects of gamification on all performance indicators. However, no significant changes were observed in attendance rates, as the percentage of non-attending students remained unchanged under both experimental conditions. These results contribute to the understanding of how gamification can shape academic outcomes and highlight areas for further investigation in educational settings.