Training 2000, the Italian partner of the Ecotrade project, conducted on October 14, 2025 the first testing round of the educational board game with 14 students from Istituto della Rovere in Urbania (Italy). This pivotal phase actively stimulated both motivation and debate on the game’s potential to innovate game-based learning in Vocational Education and Training (VET) within the field of international trade and green competences development in Italy, Spain and Greece.
After an internal development phase, the game includes shipment cards where players take on the role of international trade companies across Europe, strategically selecting modes of transport ( road, rail, water, and air). Each shipment’s success and score points depends on event cards that can positively or negatively influence time, money, and environmental impact for the players company. Company tokens move across a detailed European map designed to help students acquire essential knowledge about international trade regulations as well as the three key sustainability domains: social, economic, and environmental. This interactive gameplay fosters a deeper understanding of how trade impacts these vital areas in real-world contexts.
Feedback received will be used by partners to refine the Ecotrade rulebook and trainer’s guide to enable VET teachers, trainers, and educators to effectively implement the game across diverse educational and environmental settings.
The Ecotrade project partners will then produce the final version, which will be tested internationally by VET trainers and students from Greece, Italy, and Spain during the second Learning, Teaching, and Training Activity (LTTA) in Miranda de Ebro (Spain) in November 2025, hosted by Istituto Tecnico Industrial de Miranda de Ebro (ITM).
Once the game is finalized, all elements will be available as a print-and-play version on the project website, allowing users to easily download and print the components for personal use. Moreover, the project also foresees the development of a freely accessible online version of the game, which will enable a broader audience to participate and learn through digital gameplay. This online version will ensure greater flexibility and reach, making the game accessible to educators, students, and professionals worldwide.
Thanks to Istituto della Rovere for their active participation in the Ecotrade game sessions and for providing valuable feedback.
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