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The University of Tokyo will offer courses on the metaverse

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The University of Tokyo, also known as Todai, is expected to offer a range of degree programs later this year that will take place in the metaverse.

According to a July 23 report from local news outlet The Asahi Shimbun, the classes will be offered to students ranging from high school to adult learners in the workforce.

The publication said Metaverse study programs will not be delivered through its own dedicated faculty that offers degrees, but will instead operate under Todai’s Faculty of Engineering and engineering-related graduate schools. Students who complete the courses will receive certificates.

Todai’s project was launched to address the lack of qualified personnel working on “digital transformation” and “advanced technologies”.

University officials also pointed out that studying in the metaverse will also create a situation in which “anyone, regardless of age, gender, social status and place of residence, can learn about engineering and information science”.

Crypto and NFTs were not specifically mentioned, but given the sector is often associated with the metaverseand has a number of popular metaverse brandsthere will likely be a mention of blockchain-based platforms.

For middle and high school students, they will receive an introductory view of the space, as well as information on potential roadmaps to finding work in engineering, science, and other related fields. They will receive content in a mix of online and face-to-face lessons.

University students and those already in the workforce will be offered opportunities to upskill through related online courses focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and next-generation communication technologies. and entrepreneurial training.

There will also be an effort to attract more women to study the programs as the lack of female representation in engineering has been identified as a problem.

The Japanese Metaverse

There have been some notable applications of the Metaverse in Japan over the past few months as local citizens find interesting use cases for the technology.

July 25, Japan Today reported that a Fukuoka support group named JACFA has launched a virtual support room in the SecondLife Metaverse platform. The group works specifically on reintegrating Hikkikomori – reclusive people who essentially refuse to leave their homes – into society.

Related: Japan’s Crypto Self-Regulation “Experiment” Doesn’t Work

The problem has been highlighted as a big social problem in Japan, and the idea is to allow Hikkikomori to receive initial help without the pressure of being face to face.

In April, it was also reported that 3,800 students from a total of 29 trade schools (beauty, sports, technology, hospitality, etc.) of the NSG College League in Niigata, held their commencement ceremonies in 2022 in the metaverse. The event was held virtually to make it easy for everyone to attend without risking contracting COVID-19.