Hong Kong university to initiate a diverse reality classroom in Metaverse called MetaHKUST

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) announced the launch of a virtual reality classroom on the Metaverse on September 1. The launch marks the inauguration of HKUST’s plan to sponsor immersive learning by building a virtual campus in the Metaverse, to be called MetaHKUST.

By building MetaHKUST, the institution campaigns to create a learning environment that virtually connects the two campuses — in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. By virtually connecting the campuses, HKUST expects to help students overcome geographical constraints when attending classes.

The launch of the mixed reality classroom denotes the opening of a new campus in the city of Guangzhou, Hong Kong, an academic from the HKUST institution told South China Morning Post. Pan Hui, chair professor of computational media and arts at the Guangzhou campus, further said that:

“A lot of guests might be overseas and can’t attend [the opening], so we will host it in the metaverse.”

Hui believes learning in the Metaverse to be a better option for students as it promotes a greater level of interaction, adding:

“Through virtual reality, you can feel as if you’re there. How you interact with students around you will increase your learning outcome.”

In spite of the nascence of the technology, Wang Yang, vice president for institutional advancement at HKUST, said the Metaverse was “here to stay.”

Singapore’s Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong opined on using the budding technology in legal marriage proceedings, court case disputes, and government services while adding to the long list of use cases the Metaverse has to offer.

Tong supported his statement by highlighting instances when intimate events such as the solemnization of marriages were being held at the Metaverse, adding:

“It would not be unthinkable that, besides registration of marriages, other government services can soon be accessed online via the Metaverse.”

Tong specified that the addition of such technology would not prevent traditional offline hearings from taking place and rather suggested an “integrated platform” that could invigorate the dispute resolution process. He noted that “there can always be a hybrid element.”