LG Uplus, a South Korean telecom provider and subsidiary of LG, recently introduced a metaverse experience called “Meta Yonsei” at Yonsei University in Seoul.
Meta Yonsei is a virtual representation of the university’s Sinchon campus, complete with iconic landmarks like the auditorium and library. It also offers access to digital resources and private meeting spaces for both faculty and students.
Unlike other metaverse experiences, Meta Yonsei restricts certain features to verified students. While prospective students and outsiders can explore the campus virtually, only registered students have access to peer meeting tools and specific areas within the metaverse.
According to a local newspaper, Chosun Biz, students at Yonsei University have reacted positively to the Meta Yonsei experience.
Typically, metaverse experiences targeting specific communities, such as universities, focus on social aspects and are mainly aimed at prospective students or business partners. These experiences often resemble digital museums rather than interactive spaces.
However, Meta Yonsei was designed with productivity in mind. It incorporates tools like team meetings with virtual workspaces, video and audio conferencing, and automated annotation and captioning. This encourages students to actively engage with the metaverse throughout their academic journey.
Additionally, this prepares students for the demands of the modern global workplace, where productivity tools like Google Meet and Zoom, as well as real-time cross-border collaborations among diverse workforces, have become the norm.
Furthermore, students and faculty can interact through structured check-ins and supervised activities. The project’s announcement in 2023 suggests that up to a thousand users can participate in virtual events held in the metaverse’s auditorium, which replicates the university’s real-life installation. These events offer the opportunity to listen to guest speakers and industry experts on a virtual stage.