Competition meets collaboration – Panel discussion as a design approach

To support students in acquiring technical and social competences, playful designs (e.g., simulation games) are increasing in popularity. Adapting this idea, this paper outlines the promotion of collaboration within a panel discussion. This design is an enhanced business game that combines both competitive and collaborative phases. Empirical monitoring conducted in the 2021 summer semester in the bachelor’s course at the University of Bamberg was used to evaluate the format’s effectiveness. The aims are to derive and discuss recommendations for an approach that combines collaboration and competition in higher education.