Cambrian College is introducing a new course that will teach programmers to create videogames and virtual reality simulations aimed at educating and training people for the workforce.
Launching in September 2026, the one-year Serious Games – Design and Development program will teach students gaming principles and technology so they can create corporate and industrial training, health-care simulations, research tools, safety instruction, and community education tools.
It's being described as the first program of its kind at an Ontario college.
“Serious games bridge the gap between learning and doing,” Aaron Langille, the Serious Games program coordinator, said in a Cambrian news release.
“This program gives students the technical foundations and creative problem-solving skills needed to design experiences that help people build confidence, strengthen skills, and prepare for real-world tasks in a safe, interactive way.”
“Gamification” — inserting game-like aspects into other applications — has been on the rise in recent years, the idea being that learning and training becomes more appealing if it's turned into a game.
The goal is to attract more users, maintain their interest, and help them retain information.
For example, a miner-in-training could take a virtual reality tour of an operating mine to familiarize them with the operation before going underground.
Cambrian College launched its first game design program in 2021, teaching students game design theory, how to create and produce games, and the use of augmented and virtual reality.
The new program offers students instructor-led classes, delivered either in person or online. Students will be required to complete a serious games project, graduating with a portfolio-ready application that demonstrates their ability to design purposeful, innovative game experiences.
Registration for the new program is open now.