Games Beyond Entertainment
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
Aula Magna 003, Edificio Aulario I, Campus de Móstoles
May 28-29, 2026
THURSDAY, 28 May – Higher Education Game Degree Programs
Opening Sessions will be in-person only. All Roundtable Sessions will be hybrid via Zoom, and recorded and shared after the Symposium. Connection information will be shared to all registrants by May 27.
(CEST=Central European Summer Time, Madrid; CDT=Central Daylight Savings Time, Illinois)
11:30 CEST – Opening Plenary Session and Introductions
WELCOME
- Dean Miguel Cuerdo Mir
Facultad de Ciencias de la Economía y de la Empresam
(Universidad Rey Juan Carlos)
AGENDA: Approaches to Game Studies in Higher Education
- João Alves de Sousa (Lusófona University)
- Aarón Sújar Garrido (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos)
- Baltasar Fernandez Manjon (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
- Lisa Bievenue (University of Illinois)
12:30 – LUNCH
14:30 CEST (07:30 CDT) – Roundtable I
TEACHING GAME DESIGN: Mission and Global Trends
Given regional variations in game studies and design degree programs, are there opportunities for institutional collaboration to strengthen mission, learning outcomes, curriculum, pedagogy, and research?
KEY DISCUSSANTS:
- Lisa Bievenue (University of Illinois)
- João Alves de Sousa (Lusófona University)
- María Zapata Cáceres (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos)
- Baltasar Fernandez Manjun (Universidad Complutense)
- José San Martín López, (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos)
15:30 – BREAK
16:00 CEST (09:00 CDT) – Roundtable II
TEACHING GAME DESIGN: Creativity, Approaches and Framing
Discussants will share innovative approaches and frameworks for teaching game design and development, including User Design, Creative Literacy, Systems, Interdisciplinary, Constructivism and Experiential Learning.
MODERATOR: João Alves de Sousa (Lusófona University)
KEY DISCUSSANTS:
- José Raimundo (Lusófona University)
- Katie Blazek (University of Illinois)
- Judith Pintar (University of Illinois)
- Antonio Calvo Morata (Universidad Complutense)
17:30 – BREAK
18:00 CEST (11:00 CDT) – Roundtable III
TEACHING GAME DESIGN: Pedagogy In the Real World
What is required to support innovative programs that focus on experiential learning and how can universities develop corporate partnerships in ways that create sustainable and educational internship opportunities while also protecting the intellectual property of students?
MODERATOR: María Zapata Cáceres (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos)
KEY DISCUSSANTS:
- Pedro Rito (Instituto Politécnico de Viseu)
- Austin Reitz (University of Illinois)
- Dejan Trencevski (University of Illinois)
19:30 CEST (12:30 CDT) – Roundtable Reports
20:00 CEST (13:00 CDT) – CONCLUDING REMARKS and NEXT STEPS
FRIDAY, 29 May – Games Beyond Entertainment – Design Considerations
Opening Sessions will be in-person only. All Roundtable Sessions will be hybrid via Zoom, and recorded and shared after the Symposium. Connection information will be shared to all registrants by May 27.
(CEST=Central European Summer Time, Madrid; CDT=Central Daylight Savings Time, Illinois)
10:00 CEST – Opening Plenary: Madrid in Game – Elisa Pascual Martínez
10:30 – Corporate Collaborations (TBA)
11:30 – Networking
12:30 – LUNCH
14:30 CEST (07:30 CDT) – Roundtables IV
Room A:
Design for Serious Play
- Accessibility
- Engagement
- Diversity
MODERATOR: José Raimundo (Lusófona University)
KEY DISCUSSANTS:
- Katryna Starks (University of Illinois)
- Wilson Almedia (Lusófona University)
Room B:
Game Analytics
MODERATOR: Baltasar Fernandez Manjun (Universidad Complutense)
KEY DISCUSSANTS:
- Yochanan Moran (Garinym)
- TBA
16:00 – BREAK
16:30 CEST (09:30 CDT) – Roundtables V
Room A:
Games Pedagogy: Designing for Learning
- Embedded / Embodied
- Gamification / Engagement
- Accessibility / Diversity
- Measuring Impact
CO-MODERATORS:
- Robert Lockhart (Important Little Games)
- Michael Tissenbaum (University of Illinois)
KEY DISCUSSANTS:
- Dan Steward (University of Illinois)
- João Alves de Sousa (Lusófona University)
- Cristina Alonso Fernandez (Universidad Complutense)
- Maryam Jahadakbar (University of Illinois)
Room B:
Methodologies of Agentic AI in Serious Games
MODERATOR: Baltasar Fernandez Manjun (Universidad Complutense)
KEY DISCUSSANTS:
- Dan Cermak (University of Illinois)
- Oleg Chumachenko (Tokef Energía)
- Victor Manuel (Nord Universitet)
18:00 – BREAK
18:30 CEST (11:30 CDT) – Roundtables VI
Room A:
Designing Games for Health and Well-being
MODERATOR: Katryna Starks (University of Illinois)
KEY DISCUSSANTS:
- Yasmin Moniz (University of Madeira; University of Mogi das Cruzes)
- Brian Graves (University of Illinois)
- Aarón Sújar Garrido (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos)
Room B:
Designing Games for Cultural Heritage
MODERATOR: Sarvin Eshaghi (University of Illinois)
KEY DISCUSSANTS:
- Wilson Almeida (Lusófona University)
- Lívia Ferreira (University of Illinois)
- Aahee Tikku (MIT ADT Institute of Design)
19:30 CEST (12:30 CDT) – Roundtable Reports
20:00 CEST (13:00 CDT) – CONCLUDING REMARKS and NEXT STEPS
This Conference is made possible by Playful by Design International Partners:
