CAPTRS Partners with Karolinska Institutet to Pilot AMR Knowledge Space Game in Higher Education

This past spring, CAPTRS collaborated with the Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Sweden to pilot the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) version of the CAPTRS Knowledge Space Game with students in the Biomedical Communication course. This marked the first time the AMR Knowledge Space Game was integrated into a university curriculum.

The pilot allowed students to engage deeply with the complex challenges of AMR through a structured, game-based learning experience. In the first phase, students used game tokens and visual frameworks to map the interconnected factors contributing to AMR. In the second phase, they brainstormed and presented possible interventions and anticipated outcomes. The game’s design promotes systems thinking and collaborative problem-solving, helping students build a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted issues surrounding AMR.

Throughout the experience, students practiced interdisciplinary collaboration and critical thinking skills that are essential in global health and biomedical innovation.

This initiative was led by Dr. Giulia Gaudenzi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Public Health at KI, and was supported by a departmental grant. The project brought together several key contributors whose collective expertise shaped a dynamic and interdisciplinary learning experience:

Dr. Francesca de Rosa, Chief Scientist at CAPTRS Dr. Matthew Kirkham, Director of the Biomedical Communication course at KI

Dr. Jennifer Valcke, Educational Developer at KI Dr. Edmund Loh, Researcher and Lecturer in Microbiology at KI

Nina Viberg, Senior Researcher and Project Coordinator at KI

Their collaboration blended insights from biomedical education, global health strategy, and serious game design to deliver a forward-thinking approach to learning.

CAPTRS continues to work with Karolinska Institutet to expand the game’s application in future courses and explore its potential for educational research. We believe that equipping future health professionals to think systemically, communicate across disciplines, and navigate complexity is not just valuable—it is essential.

To learn more about the AMR Knowledge Space Game, visit: https://captrs.org/game-portfolio/amr-game/