A new educational course at the University of Tokyo (Todai) aims to address the shortage of qualified personnel for Japan’s digital transformation. The training will take place in virtual space.
Graduate students of Todai, one of Japan’s most famous universities, are developing several specialized training programs that can be held in the metaverse. This is reported by local news publication The Asahi Shimbun.
Students from lower secondary schools, university students, and graduates can take a course at the University of Tokyo in virtual space. The course materials were created by Todai engineering graduate students. They will introduce everyone to engineering and information sciences, as well as provide information about career opportunities in the blockchain industry. A certificate is expected to be awarded at the end of the training.
The project’s main goal is to train qualified personnel for Japan’s digital transformation. Also, the course materials will allow some specialists to retrain by getting access to practical training in the metaverse, thanks to cooperation with specialized software product development companies.
Online courses will be offered in the following areas:
- artificial intelligence;
- entrepreneurship education;
- next-generation communication technologies.
Teruo Fujii, Principal of the University of Tokyo, said that using the metaverse will create an educational system in which anyone, regardless of age, gender, social status, and area of residence, can learn about engineering and computer science.
The virtual space has recently become a priority place not only for learning. For instance, UAE authorities are planning to open representative offices of some governmental organizations and hospitals in the metaverse, and the government of the Central African Republic is looking to create a special economic zone in the metaverse.
