On Saturday, March 7, the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy will hosted graduate students participating in the 2026
NASPAA Simulation Competition. This year’s competition — a collaboration between Forio and the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) — connected students from NASPAA member schools all over the world. The simulation competition addressed policy issues related to wildfire mitigation through computer-based simulated gameplay.
Created and refined by experts at Forio, who utilized extensive real-world data, the simulation placed students in leadership roles within a time-sensitive, fast-paced environment where they collaborated to solve complex policy issues.
Designed specifically for public affairs students, the Wildfire Simulation is a web-based tool that facilitates experiential learning. Taking on roles such as Mayor, Fire Marshall, Community Representative, and others, players work in teams to develop a joint Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Each player is in charge of representing their role honestly and to the best of their abilities. The game challenges participants to balance safety, environmental conservation, community support and more, all while being held accountable by a panel of competition judges. A panel of prominent super judges will determine the global winners of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes, each accompanied by awards of $3,000, $1,500, and $750, respectively.
Thousands of students from NASPAA’s global network have participated in the simulation competition, which examines a different multifaceted policy issue each year. The Wildfire Simulation has been used in NASPAA classrooms worldwide to teach essential concepts about communication, collaboration, and equity.
UMass Amherst School of Public Policy hosts 2026 NASPAA Student Simulation Competition
