University of Tokyo to Offer Engineering Courses in the Metaverse

The University of Tokyo will offer a series of engineering courses using metaverse tech. The courses, which are projected to start being offered later this year, will introduce students to the subjects of engineering and will combine this knowledge with the skills to handle metaverse-based worlds, to manage the digital transformation that work and educational environments are undergoing.

University of Tokyo to Introduce Metaverse-Based Courses Later This Year

Educational institutions are starting to recognize the power of metaverse platforms as tools to leverage in educational and instructional processes. The University of Tokyo, one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in Japan, has recently announced a plan for imparting metaverse-based engineering courses.

While these courses in the metaverse won’t confer degrees, they will be set up by the engineering faculty of the university and will have two goals. The first is to introduce high school students to the possible career paths they can take at the University of Tokyo related to engineering and information science fields. The second goal is to address the shortage of personnel capable of handling digital tools and new technologies in these academic environments.

The university has not detailed the metaverse platform to be used for these tasks. This new project will offer courses in areas such as artificial intelligence, entrepreneurial education, and next-generation communication technology. Students completing these courses will receive certification from the University of Tokyo, and will also have the possibility of attending face-to-face classes to complement online activities.

According to reports, the university will make an effort to recruit women for these courses, due to the low level of participation the demographic has in engineering courses.

Metaverse-Based Learning

With the rise of the metaverse as a platform where many activities can happen, more companies and institutions are taking their activities to this alternate world. A survey made in May by Globant, an Argentinian software company, found that 66% believe that virtual learning will be one of the metaverse apps that will change people’s lives in the next ten years. This kind of learning environment can also serve as an introduction to remote work, another trend that some companies have adopted since the Covid-19 pandemic period.

However, according to a study conducted by researchers of Coburg University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Primorska, and Microsoft Research, current metaverse tech might not yet be suitable for this kind of application.