"Electionville" educational game takes place at YSU

During the game, participating students took on the roles of council members of the fictional city of Electionville. They tested their skills by discussing urban issues, making decisions, and allocating limited resources to propose the most effective solutions for the various community groups. This format allowed students to see how democracy functions at the local level and highlighted the importance of compromise, listening, and collaboration. 

The event was held within the framework of a global toolkit developed by the Swedish Institute, which has been employed in numerous countries worldwide and made accessible to thousands of young people, contributing to their civic and political education. 

Mikayel Hovhannisyan, Vice-Rector for Development and Innovation at YSU, highlighted the importance of similar initiatives, stating, "This is another, but very important collaboration for us. Events like this, which combine educational and gaming elements, have a priority role in civic education. They are highly effective in terms of gamifying education because they help make the learning process more engaging, immersive, and practical."

Astghik Mnatsakanyan, Director of YSU Alumni and Career Center, also underscored the initiative’s significance, highlighting the educational and skills development components.

"This interactive program, implemented jointly with the Embassy of Sweden and the Swedish Alumni Network, aims to introduce students to local democracy, decision-making processes, and their opportunities for involvement through a game-based approach. Such informal educational formats are very effective because they allow participants to gain valuable knowledge through real experience. Most of the participants are students from YSU Faculty of International Relations, whose academic focus perfectly aligns with the initiative’s content," she said.

Sara Hoper, Deputy Head of Swedish Development Cooperation and Program Specialist for Environment and Climate, also stressed the importance of democratic education and youth participation.

"In Sweden, we place great emphasis on cultivating a democratic culture from an early age. We are hopeful that initiatives like this, using gaming and participatory formats, are among the best ways to engage young people in civic life. We are very pleased to see this idea take root in Armenia as well and are sure it will contribute to forming a more informed and active youth," she said.

Arman Gasparyan, Chairperson of the Board of the Swedish Alumni Network in Armenia, added, "It is a great honor to conduct this game with YSU students. It was developed and is being promoted worldwide by the Swedish Institute. This is the second time the game has been held in Armenia, and we are convinced it will become a continuous initiative involving a wider circle of students."

At the end of the event, participants expressed that the game not only provided an opportunity to learn about the practical aspects of democracy but also created an environment where teamwork, discussions, and responsibility became part of a real-life experience.