Novel methods in corporate ESG education: A case study in Singapore

The increasing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) in corporate strategy necessitates effective educational tools that can bridge the current ESG literacy gap. Yet the effectiveness of play-based ESG education activities remains. This study examines the effectiveness of play-based learning in ESG corporate education by comparing an environment-themed escape room with a traditional workshop in Singapore. Participants were randomly assigned either the escape room or workshop and completed pre- and post-session surveys evaluating knowledge, engagement, and behavioural intentions. Analysis was built on six features of effective environmental games: immersion, engagement, learning by doing, real-world problem simulation, decision-making autonomy, and facilitator hosting. We found that both the escape room and workshop enhanced participants’ understanding of sustainability concepts, with the escape room fostering collaborative problem-solving and the workshop supporting reflective dialogue. To strengthen future ESG-focused games, the study recommends a hybrid approach, embedding explicit cause-effect mechanisms, adopting phased game progression and adaptable difficulty, and promoting equal participation through role-based or task-diverse gameplay. Skilled facilitation and structured debrief remain essential for linking in-game learning experiences to real-world application. This research demonstrates the complementary value of play-based and discussion-based approaches in corporate ESG education, showing that well-designed hybrid models can enhance engagement, deepen understanding, and foster sustainable behavioural change in organisations.