Metaverse and Education2 min read

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Business schools are considering the growing interest in virtual reality and implementing Metaverse opportunities. The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has a relevant program as well as at Stanford University. A simpler option to consider would be the University of Tokyo, also known as Todai, which announced in late July that it would be offering metaverse courses not only for adults but also for high school students in a hybrid format. The project is aimed at solving the problem of the lack of specialists in the field of “digital transformation” and “advanced technologies”.

Wharton launched the new online certificate program Business in the Metaverse Economy in partnership with economic consulting firm Prysm Group. The course focuses on how the Metaverse economy can be applied to commerce, the arts, media, advertising, healthcare, gaming, and the social sphere. The program includes six case studies and over 50 video lectures featuring six Wharton faculty and other experts from Adobe, Animoca Brands, Hellenic Parliament, Magic Leap, R/GA, RLY Network, Second Life, Snap, New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Unity. Kevin Werbach, professor and the Business in the Metaverse Economy program’s academic director, said in a press release that they designed this program for business professionals and executives from various backgrounds, including finance, management, and tech. The program’s goal is to “equip business leaders, consultants, and entrepreneurs with an understanding of the impending opportunities the metaverse brings, as well as the practical knowledge to build solutions of value”. The course will start on September 12 with a tuition of $4,500. Interaction with the metauniverse will be done through the computer and does not require a virtual reality headset.

The VR immersion at Stanford University lasts 10 weeks. All the students are provided with student allocation of Facebook Oculus Quest 2 headsets. In addition to the headsets, the course also uses Engage virtual communication software to connect students and faculty. The program is part of a study by the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab. Its study examines how virtual technologies can be effectively used in educational institutions. Each week the course focuses on a new area in the real world where virtual reality can be integrated. It covers the growing influence of technology in various fields, including popular culture, engineering, behavioral science, and communication.

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