How leading universities use virtual worlds for admissions, events and learning

This article is based on a 45-minute LinkedIn Live session, "How are top educational institutions benefitting from The Metaverse?", with Harpreet Bhatia, Co-Founder and CEO of ibentos, and Jaspinder Bhatia, Co-Founder and CMO of ibentos. The session was moderated by Vandana Bansal from Metaverse911.

The challenge for educational institutions

Universities and colleges compete for students who may live far from campus and cannot easily visit. Distance learners rarely meet their peers or faculty. International exchange is expensive and open to only a few. And complex subjects such as science, engineering and healthcare need hands-on practice that is hard to provide at scale.

Immersive technology is helping institutions address each of these. The panel discussed five uses.

Five ways institutions are using immersive technology

1. Virtual campus tours

Prospective students can explore facilities, meet faculty and see campus life without leaving home. Because tours work from anywhere and for people with limited mobility, institutions can reach a wider and more diverse pool of applicants.

2. Admissions

Institutions are using virtual environments for interactive application portals, virtual interviews, information sessions and orientation programmes. AI-based avatars can guide prospective students, answer their questions and explain admission requirements.

3. Global student exchange

Students can take part in cultural exchanges, language courses and joint projects with peers abroad without travelling. Two examples:

• Florida State University worked with the University of Tampere in Finland and the Universities of Bergen and Volda in Norway to bring students together in a virtual world to discuss climate change. 25 students from the institutions gathered around a virtual campfire in a virtual forest.
• Students of the Korean Studies Program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Hebrew class at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies took part in a language exchange at the Embassy of Israel in the metaverse.

4. Student engagement and events

Virtual events give distance learners a way to connect with peers and faculty.

• BITS Pilani held a virtual convocation for 6,600 WILP students, with personalised entry, lifelike avatars, virtual stages and AI-based avatars.
• IIT Kanpur ran its annual cultural fest in the metaverse, powered by ibentos, with startup showcases, virtual campus tours and performances.

Institutions also use virtual spaces for lectures, seminars, workshops and career fairs that encourage active participation.

5. Virtual labs and simulations

VR simulations and virtual laboratories give students hands-on experience in complex subjects such as science, engineering and healthcare. This leads to deeper understanding and better retention.

How to apply it

Start with the problem that costs the institution most. If admissions reach is the issue, begin with a virtual campus tour. If distance learners feel disconnected, start with a flagship event such as a convocation or fest. If practical teaching is limited by lab space or equipment, a virtual lab is the place to begin.

The same thinking applies to companies that train apprentices and technicians: virtual labs and simulations give hands-on practice on equipment that is expensive or hard to access.

Next step

If you are planning a virtual tour, event or VR lab for an institution or a training academy, talk to our team.

First published on the Metaverse911 blog.