| Abstract | This paper presents “Navigating Westminster”, a web-based interactive tool designed to enhance academic orientation for students and staff. As students enter or progress through higher education, they must develop an understanding of academic practices, terminology, institutional structures, and mechanisms that support successful study. Although these elements are not discipline-specific, they are essential for academic success and the development of academic identity (Triantafyllou SA et al. (2025) Gamification in education and training: A literature review, 1–35). However, induction is often delivered through passive, information-heavy presentations, while orientation learning is often not recognised as a form of learning (Morgan A, Beaty L (1997) The world of the learner, 2:217–237). To address this, the “Serious Games at Westminster” research group developed “Navigating Westminster”, an interactive application that transforms induction content into serious games, quizzes, and scenario-based activities. These activities support students in understanding institutional processes, identifying support, and developing confidence in seeking help. By reducing cognitive overload and promoting active learning, the tool enhances belonging, wellbeing, and academic self-efficacy. Initially developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the tool was refined and tested across four undergraduate business programmes in 2025. Findings from an educator-centred evaluation demonstrate improved student engagement, increased confidence, and more efficient induction delivery (Bouki V., Economou D. et al. (2026) Navigating Westminster: An Educator-Centered Evaluation of an Educational Game for Academic Orientation, in Tec-Edu International Conference, accepted). |
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