Simulations

Making your arguments heard in a collective framework

The simulation is a dynamic pedagogical exercise with a double purpose: first, to immerse students in a real-life situation; and, second, to give them an opportunity to examine the various solutions to the problems raised in a collective context. With the help of a specific scenario, the simulation allows students to better evaluate the complexity of a decision, the process leading up to it, as well as the stakes involved. A simulation entails, based on considerable research, reproducing a real situation in a collective context, with arguments on both sides, that culminates in a public choice through a process of negotiation, consultation and deliberation.

Simulation exercises can take different forms: negotiation (the “Richelieu 3.0” module on French maritime strategy), debate (the European Heritage Prize), simulation-action (in the form of a hackathon), or computer-based (simulation of a health crisis). For all these exercises, emphasis is placed on feedback from practitioners, which allows for critical perspective on the experience.

This exercise stimulates the imagination of participants, enabling them to establish links between knowledge, know-how (learning through doing) and social skills (stronger interpersonal relations). Students learn about themselves, but also about the constraints imposed and the opportunities presented by the format, rules and frameworks chosen for the exercise.