English
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), ranked second in the best higher education institutions in the QS Asia University rankings, is actively developing an innovative project: the world's first augmented reality digital campus.
This project aims to create a flexible, interactive educational environment where students can learn at their own pace and format and interact with teachers and peers as effectively as in real life. The digital campus will provide access to lectures, seminars, master classes, and conferences for all students, regardless of their physical location. "The metaverse will connect the university campus in Hong Kong with our branch in Guangzhou, eliminating all geographical restrictions for our students," confirmed Pan Hui, a lecturer at the university.
HKUST management has announced that the virtual campus will open this academic year, enabling students to start studying in a mixed-reality classroom. Once the metaHKUST ecosystem is fully developed, participants in the educational process can create their avatars and produce their content, such as NFTs. Additionally, the university is exploring the possibility of issuing higher education diplomas in NFT format, secured by blockchain technology.
Interestingly, following Hong Kong's lead, other universities are also starting to adopt Web3 technologies. For instance, the University of Tokyo recently announced its intention to develop its metaverse for students and teachers.
