Once a year, the Bundesrat invites pupils from the federal state currently holding the presidency to Berlin. For three days, over 120 young people from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern took on the roles of ministers from 16 federal states, and of journalists. We were responsible for the conception and realisation of the simulation game for the first time.

We developed a completely new concept for the event. Especially for a simulation game about an institution as complex as the Bundesrat, we found it important to set didactic priorities, simplify in the right places and design the processes in a modular way so that the young people remain interested and motivated over the three days. 

After an interactive introduction, the necessary prior knowledge was conveyed via a pub quiz in which the delegations from the federal states competed against each other and thus built their state teams. It was also important to us that not only institutional knowledge was conveyed. So-called "skills workshops" were integrated into the course of the simulation game, in which the participants are introduced to the basics of political practice and learn, for example, negotiation skills that they can use directly in the simulation game, but also beyond. Special roles such as prime ministers and committee chairs were given separate briefings - just like in real life.   

Part of the group became the press team that reported on the negotiations in the simulation game. They published short news items and more detailed reports via our Senaryon software, produced a filmed news programme and hosted a live talk show. One of the highlights was certainly the live interview with the real Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig, who came to the plenary chamber of the Bundesrat for a discussion with the young people. 

As in reality, most of the substantive discussions took place in the committees. At the end of the negotiations, the plenary votes were held on the two bills under discussion: Both the introduction of a general obligation to serve and that of anonymised applications were approved by a majority. As one young person said in his role as committee chairman: "During the three days, we learnt how important it is to approach each other and make compromises. That's right! This was followed by thunderous applause, which is not really customary in the Bundesrat. 

Thank you for three great days with a fantastic group of young people from eight different schools in MV, and for the very pleasant co-operation with an equally great team in the Bundesrat! 

Impressions in pictures and video on the website of the Bundesrat.