Escape rooms bring project management theory to life

The buzz of problem-solving and teamwork filled Ara Institute of Canterbury classrooms yesterday as Bachelor of Applied Management students raced against the clock - not in a boardroom, but in escape rooms they’d built themselves.

The challenge was part of a unique assessment for the AMPM600 Project Management course, led by Academic Staff Member Gus Walkden. Students were tasked with turning theory into practice by designing hands-on puzzles based on project management concepts such as risk management, scheduling and stakeholder engagement.

Each student created one puzzle, which their peers attempted to solve during the lively afternoon of testing and teamwork. Afterwards, they presented posters explaining the theory behind their puzzles and reflected on their design choices. QR codes on each poster link to feedback forms, enabling participants to evaluate each other’s work and to use the feedback for their own self-reflection. Students also voted for their favourite design - this semester’s people’s choice winner was Prea Millar, with her puzzle Raiders of the Lost Stakeholders.

_{Prea Millar's winning poster}

The event also caught the attention of industry and academia. Dr Lulu Barry, Director of Engineering Management at the University of Canterbury (UC) and former Ara tutor, attended alongside Pierre Pienaar, UC Lecturer and Chair of the Project Management Institute (PMI) Christchurch chapter. Impressed by Ara’s innovative approach, Dr Barry plans to run a similar activity at UC, with the potential for a future regional competition between institutions judged by industry professionals.

_{Left to right: Dr Lulu Barry, Pierre Pienaar and Gus Walkden}

Walkden has now run this assessment for three semesters, refining it each time. “It’s a low-risk assessment that allows students to apply what they’ve learned in a fun, collaborative way,” he said. “It’s become a highlight of the course.”

Students will now take their learning into the next phase of the course, applying project management principles using Microsoft Project.

For Walkden, the escape room challenge reflects what Ara does best.

“Our students learn by doing,” he said. “They take the theory, apply it in a practical setting, and come away with skills and confidence they can use in any workplace. That’s the real value of applied learning.”