Uni dropout-problem computer game wins national acclaim

A COMPUTER game that gets players thinking about the reasons why some students are more likely to drop out of university has gained national recognition.

Nathaniel Bott, one of the high achievers at this year's national GovHack competition with images from his team's game. Picture: BRUCE MOUNSTER

A COMPUTER game that gets players thinking about the reasons why some students are more likely than others to drop out of university has gained national recognition.

Mission Attrition, created by a team led by Launceston student Nathaniel Bott, gained an honourable mention at this year’s national GovHack awards.

Players take on the role of a university lecturer who is dealt a class of students with various education histories.

The lecturers must then allocate scarce time and resources, according to need, to prevent as many students as possible from dropping out.

The game has been built around a trove of data released by the Federal Department of Education and Training, which revealed links between certain life and educational histories and poor university graduation rates.

Mr Bott said Mission Attrition was intended to raise awareness.

“To start a conversation. How can we find better solutions for drop out rates?’’ he said.

Mr Bott, who is enjoying a gap year after completing Launceston College, will next year begin a bachelor of design in video games at Melbourne’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University.

Originally published as Uni dropout-problem computer game wins national acclaim