The Skills and Knowledge for Youth (SKY) Project of Nagoya University participated in the recently concluded Board Game-Based Learning Forum (BGBLF) 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. The Institute of Board Game for Learning, an educational research institute in Thailand, organized the event. The forum brought together educators, academics, and game designers from around the region to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and promote a learning culture through board games.  

Source:  Some photos courtesy of IBGL Facebook page 

The event opened with a keynote address from Prof. Yamada, Project Lead of the SKY Project, who discussed the educational merits of board games and the theoretical foundations that underpin their use. She highlighted the proven effectiveness of SKY Project’s game-based training program on developing the work-related noncognitive skills of industrial workers.  Prof. Yamada emphasized that while developing more educational board games is important, it is equally essential to design teaching and training programs that would help learners transfer in-game learnings and experiences into real-world contexts. 

SKY Project Team members, Dr. Pimmada and Dr. Estrellado, also led an interactive workshop where participants designed game-based training programs guided by the theoretical foundations introduced by Prof. Yamada during her speech. In the workshop, participants explored the concept of Behavioral Modeling and learned how its principles can be applied in the design of educational board games and teaching/training programs. The workshop provided participants with strategies and tips that they can use in order to suit their own needs.  

SKY Project hosted a booth throughout the forum showcasing its board games designed for noncognitive skills training. The booth attracted many visitors, including children and parents, students, the general public, academics, government officials, and professional game designers. With the support of Thailand Knowledge Park staff, visitors could experience the games firsthand. The booth also gave visitors a practical insight into SKY Project’s activities in industrial skills development. 

The SKY Project team extends its warm congratulations to the Institute of Board Game for Learning and Thailand Knowledge Park for the successful organization of this event. The SKY Project team is grateful for the opportunity to share our work and connect with a vibrant community dedicated to advancing board game-based education and training. 

Learn more: 

• Thailand Knowledge Park: https://www.facebook.com/tkparkclub/ 
• Institute of Board Game for Learning: https://www.facebook.com/play.ibgl/
• Skills and Knowledge for Youth (SKY) Project: https://www.facebook.com/SKYprojectNU