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King Saud University, a public university in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has taken a step into the metaverse by establishing a virtual campus.
The metaverse space is specifically dedicated to the Department of Media within the university, serving as a platform to highlight the department’s accomplishments and milestones.
According to a local news report, the concept of this metaverse space was conceived by Majedah Alsewaiah, an assistant professor in the department, and Khadeja Moraished, a PhD candidate associated with the department.
The unveiling took place on the opening day of the “Fomex” exhibition during the third Saudi Media Forum, an event focused on fostering innovation and development in the Saudi media sector.
The virtual space features realistic representations of various departmental facilities, including the digital and visual media lab, the electronic journalism lab, and the university’s newspaper headquarters.
The initiative also provides students with the opportunity to actively participate in their educational experience, engaging in activities like historical simulations and real-time language practice with avatars.
This initiative marks Saudi Arabia’s second foray into the metaverse this year. Last month, the Saudi Ministry of Culture commemorated Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day on February 22 by launching the country’s first official national cultural metaverse platform, offering virtual tours to explore the nation’s history.
In the broader context of education and the metaverse, this move aligns with a global trend of universities leveraging virtual environments.
Several universities have recognized the potential of the metaverse in facilitating global collaboration by eliminating geographical barriers. For instance, in January, Florida A&M University introduced “Rattlerverse,” becoming the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to establish a presence in the metaverse. Similarly, Coventry University relaunched its Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) Institute in November, leveraging the metaverse to encourage global engagement and digital interactions.
