As part of the course War at University College Groningen, I worked with my PhD supervisor, Dr. Alette Smeulers, to run a full-day wargame that gave students a firsthand experience of strategic decision-making in conflict. For these events I adapted and created supporting materials (including briefings and instructional videos), facilitated the simulation, and later developed a tailored wargame specifically for the course.

The simulation challenged students to navigate complex moral and political dilemmas while playing roles drawn from real-world conflicts. After the exercise, participants consistently reported a deeper understanding of the dynamics of war and a greater appreciation for its complexity — moving beyond simplified narratives and seeing the human and institutional pressures behind strategic choices.

If you're looking to help your learners or team engage with complex systems, ethical tensions, or decision-making under pressure, a simulation like this can make those challenges real — and memorable.