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Transmedia Content and Gamification in Educational Programmes for University Students with Disabilities: Digital Competences for Labour Market Integration as a Driver of Sustainable Development

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio Pérez-Manzano

    (Department of Evolutionary Psychology and Education, Faculty of Education, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain)

  • Javier Almela-Baeza

    (Department of Communication, Faculty of Communication and Documentation, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain)

  • Adrián Bonache-Ibáñez

    (Department of Evolutionary Psychology and Education, Faculty of Education, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain)

Abstract

Soft skills play a fundamental role in transversal competences in the field of training and employment, especially in university collectives with disabilities. Traditional methodologies are giving way to gamified and transmedia environments, which are more efficient in the educational process and more sustainable for institutions. This study compares two educational programmes, one based on MOOCs and the other in a gamified environment (Transwork), with the participation of 181 university graduates with some degree of disability and unemployed for more than five years. The gamified educational programme shows a significantly lower dropout rate and a higher employability rate (χ 2 , p < 0.001), as well as an improvement in interpersonal skills such as teamwork and conflict management. This demonstrates that methodologies in gamified and transmedia environments promote social sustainability by enhancing autonomy and inclusion in vulnerable groups, as well as contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to quality education, reducing inequality, and decent work. This improvement in the labour market integration of people with disabilities represents not only an advance in equity, but also a long-term saving in care costs, by promoting their autonomy and active participation in the labour market. Thus, the sustainability of the social system is reinforced through inclusive educational policies based on gamified environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Pérez-Manzano & Javier Almela-Baeza & Adrián Bonache-Ibáñez, 2025. "Transmedia Content and Gamification in Educational Programmes for University Students with Disabilities: Digital Competences for Labour Market Integration as a Driver of Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-21, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:7947-:d:1741550
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mitchell, Robert & Schuster, Lisa & Jin, Hyun Seung, 2020. "Gamification and the impact of extrinsic motivation on needs satisfaction: Making work fun?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 323-330.
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    4. Omar A. Alismaiel & Javier Cifuentes-Faura & Waleed Mugahed Al-Rahmi, 2022. "Online Learning, Mobile Learning, and Social Media Technologies: An Empirical Study on Constructivism Theory during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-15, September.
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