As part of GMU’s ongoing commitment to educational innovation and regional academic collaboration, Dr. Farah Azhar, Lecturer in Medical Education at Gulf Medical University, was invited by Fatima College of Health Sciences (FCHS) to deliver an online faculty development workshop titled “The Rise of Gamification in Medical Education.”
The workshop, held as part of FCHS’s capacity-building initiatives by Continuing Professional Development Committee, attracted the participation of over eighty faculty members and was lauded for its highly interactive and practice-oriented approach. Dr. Farah introduced participants to the foundational concepts of gamification, highlighting its pedagogical value and growing significance in health professions education.
A key highlight of the workshop was the demonstration of a cost-effective, engaging, and customizable virtual escape room, showcasing how immersive learning experiences can be integrated into curriculum design. This activity was adapted from a successful formative assessment conducted in the MHPE Bootcamp at GMU, where gamified strategies were employed to enhance learner engagement and knowledge application. Participants at FCHS provided very positive feedback, particularly appreciating the session’s practical relevance, interactivity, and innovative examples from real academic settings.
This workshop is a testament to GMU’s academic leadership in health professions education and its faculty’s contribution to the advancement of contemporary teaching practices across the UAE.
