Digital Twin Universities

In the latest excuse for not showing up for class, you can send your avatar. A metaverisity is a digital twin of a real-life campus. Students can learn in virtual settings using avatars and headsets. It’s a new pilot program across 10 universities. The headsets and gear are being funded by Meta (Facebook’s parent), the curriculum technology comes from Engage Education, an Irish company that has produced virtual-reality experiences, and the UI is designed by VictoryXR. Participating institutions include University of Maryland Global Campus, Morehouse College, University of Kansas School of Nursing, New Mexico State University, South Dakota State University, and others representing a diverse mix of campuses. Increasingly, using the metaverse as a learning center is being studied by academics and the results are promising. And, for some universities, programs like this may ultimately be less expensive, more attractive to students and help the schools keep their doors open.