Between 14 and 18 April 2026, Professor Tetiana Bondarenko of the Department of Information Computer Technologies and Mathematics at the Education and Research Institute “Ukrainian Engineering and Pedagogical Academy” of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, took part in the academic mobility programme for lecturers under the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme during the IMC 2026 International Teaching Days, held at the University of Applied Sciences Krems (Austria).
As part of the programme, a representative from V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University attended seminars, workshops and lectures focusing on the development of international cooperation between universities, the exchange of teaching experience and the strengthening of academic ties within the European Higher Education Area.
In accordance with prior arrangements, Tetiana Bondarenko led a workshop on the topic ‘Gamification as an effective tool for increasing student engagement in the educational process’. The workshop was attended by representatives from Artevelde University of Applied Sciences (Belgium), Linnaeus University (Sweden), Fontys University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), Alfred Nobel University (Ukraine), HAN University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), Breda University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands) and Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences (OST) (Switzerland).
During the workshop, gamification was examined as a modern pedagogical approach involving the use of game elements and mechanics in a non-gaming educational environment with the aim of increasing students’ motivation, engagement and involvement in learning. Within the scope of this topic, the theoretical foundations of gamification, its psychological and pedagogical underpinnings, and its didactic potential in the context of modern digital education were analysed.
Particular attention was paid to the practical application of interactive tools and group work. In particular, Tetiana Bondarenko used the Mentimeter platform as a digital tool for actively engaging the audience. During the session, quizzes and real-time word clouds were used, which made it possible to quickly gather participants’ opinions, stimulate discussion and increase their level of engagement. The use of this tool facilitated dynamic feedback between the trainer and participants and made the learning process more interactive and effective.
A key feature of the workshop was the use of the “Mozart’s Life” maze game on the Wordwall platform, which enabled the biographical material on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to be presented in an interactive way. As they navigated the maze, participants answered questions and selected the correct answers, which helped them to better retain facts, develop logical thinking and increase their motivation to learn. This format created an immersive experience and ensured everyone’s active participation.
Another practical example was the game “International Teaching Week Krems”, created on the Wayground platform. It was used as an interactive tool to simulate the teaching experience during International Teaching Week Krems. Participants completed tasks related to intercultural communication, educational practices and collaboration in an international academic environment. The game fostered the development of critical thinking and teamwork, and provided a deeper immersion in the context of academic mobility, thereby increasing participants’ interest and engagement.
Group work also formed an important part of the workshop, during which participants were asked to develop a game scenario on the theme “Green Mission: Save the Planet”, using levels and the materials provided. The scenario was structured around a step-by-step progression through the levels, with materials such as oranges, tea and sweets used as elements of the game mechanics. Each level corresponded to a separate environmental theme — resources, waste, energy and responsible consumption — and contained various types of tasks: quizzes, case studies and mini-experiments. The materials served as symbolic resources or rewards for correct answers and completed missions. The gradual increase in task difficulty, the scoring system and team interaction ensured high participant engagement, helped foster environmental awareness and reinforced knowledge in a practical way.
An interactive workshop on the topic ‘Gamification as an effective tool for increasing student engagement in the educational process’ confirmed the practical value of game-based approaches in modern education. The use of digital tools, including Mentimeter, Wordwall and Wayground, enabled the creation of a dynamic interactive environment in which every participant was actively engaged in the learning process.
The practical part of the workshop, which included games, quizzes and scenario-based tasks—in particular the development of their own gamified activities—helped to foster critical thinking, creativity and teamwork skills. Ultimately, it was demonstrated that gamification not only boosts student motivation but also improves the retention of learning material, fosters a positive experience of interaction and opens up new opportunities for innovative teaching.
International participants described the workshop as dynamic, innovative and practice-oriented. They were particularly impressed by the combination of theoretical approaches with modern interactive tools, which ensured the active participation of every participant. The high standard of organisation, the creativity of the tasks and the value of the international exchange of experience were also highlighted. Participants emphasised that the ideas and tools presented could be easily adapted to their own educational practice, making this experience particularly useful in an intercultural educational environment.
In addition to the official programme of the International Teaching Week, cultural events were organised for participants, including a tour of the university buildings and the city of Krems, as well as an informative and inspiring trip to Vienna, which provided an opportunity to delve deeper into the European cultural context and left a lasting impression.
The visit took place as part of the Erasmus+ KA171 international academic mobility programme in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences Krems (Austria).
