Can Video Games Play a Role in Supporting Students' Wellbeing and Development?

This presentation examines the potential role of video games in supporting student wellbeing and skills development in higher education. Drawing on two key studies - research conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic identifying seven mechanisms through which gaming impacts wellbeing, and earlier work on games' relationship to graduate attributes - we explore how games might be integrated into educational practice. We present evidence for gaming's positive effects on stress reduction, social connection, and skills development, while offering practical recommendations for implementation. We challenge traditional scepticism towards video games in education by presenting evidence-based frameworks for leveraging games as wellbeing support tools.