Is Virtual Convocation the Future?

Given the sheer pace of the evolution of the business realm, academia has a relentless responsibility to keep up with this pace. Creating global citizens in the tech era can’t afford to miss out on leveraging the enormous possibilities that the tech world has to offer. Something that differentiates the premium institutions in the country from others is nothing different. Let’s look into a small example - Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani recently conducted a unique convocation using Metaverse and awarded degrees to over 7,000 working professionals.

According to the press release by BITS, the afore-mentioned professionals graduated from the insti-tution’s Work Integrated Learning Programs (WILP) division in MBA, MTech, MSc, and BTech programs. While about 1,000 graduates attended the convocation in person, more than 6,800 got to use the metaverse and participate virtually from 26 different countries. It’s an amazing feat that their loved ones got to witness the event without any of the normal hassles that would take.

This is, in fact, the second successive hybrid convocation at BITS. With the integration of 3D modeling and immersive technology, students present through a hybrid mode had their personalized 3D avatars walk across a virtual stage to receive their degrees. The participants also took virtual tours to explore the campuses of BITS Pilani. It is interesting to witness educational paradigms undergoing transfor-mations with the help of technology, and Indian institutions are at par with their global counter-parts. On such a fantastic note, we present our yearly special issue shedding light on prestigious alumni of top universities in the country. Do let us know your thoughts.