Seven AUD students have been selected to serve as junior playtesters from March 30 to April 30 for Gaming Campus, France’s premier gaming education network. These students are providing structured, professional feedback on game projects currently under development by third-year French students, as part of the "Grand Projet commun (GC Awards)," an annual flagship initiative at Gaming Campus.
The collaboration is part of AUD’s Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development, offering students direct immersion into the global production ecosystem. Through this exchange, AUD students are strengthening their analytical thinking and learning to deliver documented feedback grounded in game design fundamentals which are essential traits for any developer entering the workforce. Working across borders exposes students to the realities of a global industry where cross-team communication and constant refinement are critical to success.
By engaging with AUD, Gaming Campus students gain fresh, international insights that enrich their iteration process and sharpen their analytical capabilities. This project is a critical component of the Gaming Campus curriculum, providing their students with a vital "external eye" to polish their final projects. The collaboration is designed to mirror the professional reality of the gaming industry, where teams often span different continents and rely on English as a common language to iterate and refine products.
“What makes this project especially valuable is that it reflects the reality of game development today: it is international, collaborative, and deeply iterative. In addition to learning how to design games, our students learn how to communicate across borders and contribute meaningfully to a production process involving different perspectives. Through global partnerships and an industry-ready curriculum, AUD continues to deliver immersive education that equips students to lead in a global industry projected to reach $200 billion.”
Dr. Iyad Alsabouni, Program Coordinator of Game Design and Development at AUD
The Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development at the American University in Dubai is a premier, interdisciplinary program that positions AUD as a leader in regional gaming education. Housed within the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication, the curriculum was built in partnership with the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts, a top-ranking program in the United States. As the UAE’s first B.S. in Game Design & Development, the program integrates technical development with creative storytelling. It is specifically designed to feed into the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033, equipping graduates with the creative, entrepreneurial, and technological skills needed to thrive as Dubai evolves into a global gaming hub.
