Play in the academy

What role does play have in our professional lives? 

Play is increasingly recognised as a powerful tool for thinking differently, fostering collaboration, sparking joy, and supporting wellbeing. Yet in many professional environments, especially large, hierarchical organisations like universities, play is often undervalued or misunderstood. 

This project investigates how play already operates (or could operate) within universities. How do people bring playfulness into their roles—whether visibly, subtly, or even subversively? 

We have developed a range of play-full activities and resources for you to use! All of which are archived on this website.