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METAVERSE ADMISSIONS:
Unlocking Boundless Possibilities for Educational Institutions

“Metaverse” - a concept that rose to fame in 2021, is defined as “the next step to the Internet”. It is a shared, virtual simulated platform where users login using their own digital representatives or “avatars” and can interact with each other and their environment.

The enlightening LinkedIn Live, hosted by ibentos co-founders along with Rahul Sethi and Vandana Bansal from Metaverse 911, explored metaverse strategies for education institutions and E-Learning platforms to drive higher admission rates.

The esteemed panel touched base upon several points including:

  • Admission-related challenges faced by institutions
  • Benefits to education metaverse admissions
  • AI-powered counsellors
  • Metaverse classrooms
  • Multi-university metaverse platform

What the current thought-process is surrounding the metaverse

As of today, while many prestigious universities have begun incorporating metaverse strategies into their approach, most institutions continue to remain on the fence and are stuck in the thought “who does it first?” However, with top institutions like BITS Pilani, IIT Kanpur, University of Sydney turning to the metaverse, it has become clear that education and metaverse are 2 sides of the same coin and it cannot be skipped if one wants to stay ahead of the competition.

Metaverse Strategies for Driving Higher Admission Rates

What are the current admission challenges being faced by educational institutions?

  • Increasing number of enrollments
  • Institutions are looking to expand their reach and secure admissions from around the globe. It would reflect inclusivity and mean prestige for the institution.

  • Personalisation with high volume
  • Institutions are trying to figure out how to make each student’s experience with admissions highly personalised while maintaining a high volume of admissions. The needs of each students vary and so do their criteria for selecting institutions.

  • High bounce rates
  • 2D websites that have a large number of webpages worth of information experience high bounce rates, with potential students logging into the website and leaving in some time due to the unengaging format and the overwhelming amounts of unfiltered information.

  • Uniqueness
  • With so many institutions adding to the competitive space, institutions are looking for ways to stand out from their competitors and be on the top of the minds of potential students.

Statistics you need to know

  • The bounce rates experienced by websites is quite low, with students spending around 1-2 hours on them.
  • The number of online learning students is expected to increase to 57m by 2027.
  • With the ibentos platform, institutions have registered a higher ROI, with costs cut down by 80% and admissions increasing by 4-5%.
  • With ibentos, 60,000 students can be catered in 9 months, with students spending hours and hours on the metaverse for education admissions.

What are the 3 E’s?

When creating a metaverse for admissions, one must keep in mind the 3 E’s

  • How ENGAGING is the platform?
  • How do you increase ENROLLMENTS?
  • How do you incorporate E-LEARNING?
Keeping in mind these prove beneficial.

How can the metaverse benefit educational institutions and platforms for higher admissions?

Using metaverse technology, institutions earn a positioning of being “tech-first”, which is a strong approach amongst potential students who belong to the Digital Age.

The metaverse offers a unique perception and experience to each student and offers them the freedom to network and socialise with peers.

When a metaverse platform is created, it gives students who cannot travel to the physical campus an opportunity to access the campus virtually and experience the amenities in real-time.

With virtual and distance learning becoming increasingly popular amongst students, the metaverse offers a more engaging and immersive experience, rather that PDF’s ad 2D websites.

Advantageous features of ibentos Metaverse Admissions platform

With ibentos, setting up the metaverse is a quick process. It takes 4-8 weeks to set up a metaverse for education fair

ibentos’ metaverse platforms are completely browser-based unless you choose to make it on a mobile app. The platforms can be accessed from any device using a stable internet device.

With ibentos, users need not have VR headsets to access the metaverse.

An impactful entrance can be designed with a digital twin or with an existing template with ibentos. These are full of branding opportunities where you can display banners, logos and messaging.

Gamifying the exploration journey of students encourages them to stay on the platform for longer and learn more. It leaves a lasting impression in the minds of students.

Separate spaces can be defined and designed to serve the admissions process. For example, a room for counsellors, webinars, classrooms, etc.

In-person events are held to deliver 100-webpages worth of information to students in-person. Metaverse makes this process possible virtually.

  • AI counsellors, or AI coaches, can be set up and programmed within 15-20 minutes after which they can be tested and improved accordingly.
  • The process is easy on the pocket.
  • Using Open AI, these AI counsellors can be represented as digital avatars for a more humanised and one-on-one interaction with each student,
  • Since it is not possible to have faculties present 24/7 to clarify queries, using AI, you can provide candidates with timely clarifications of their doubts. This makes sure no leads are lost.

After setting up the platform, it can be edited and customised and only the content needs to be edited, which is an easy process.

These classrooms can be designed to host webinars, mock LIVE classes and other admission processes.

Used by education consultants, the metaverse makes it possible for universities to log into fairs virtually with the assurance of an immersive experience for both teachers and students.

Conclusion

The metaverse is the step forward to virtual networking and socialisation and is a step educational institutions must neither ignore nor undermine. Amongst the minds of young students of the Digital Age, the metaverse makes a strong and lasting impression for your institute.

Solution

However, with consistent R&D and the use of AI, the ibentos metaverse team was able to address all the above challenges and create a platform that was capable of hosting the world’s biggest and most innovative convocation ceremony.

  1. Handling Concurrency: The greatest achievement was to resolve the problem of handling high user concurrency on the metaverse. Our team was able to find apt solutions; thanks to our professional expertise in handling large-scale virtual events.
  2. Humanized 3D Avatars: Students’ experience was personalized by using a selfie to create an avatar that had the same face as their own, fully dressed in a convocation gown and cap. These avatars could walk down the stage when their names were called, receive their diploma certificate, and bow, along with being able to clap and wave as well. These were essential in humanizing the metaverse convocation ceremony and making sure traditions were followed. This innovation would not have been possible without unwavering support from Avatar SDK before and during the event.
  3. Extensive use of AI: The virtual convocation metaverse platform was heavily AI-driven, right from testing on the platform to making announcements, arranging voiceovers, matchmaking students with their respective names and certificates, and even avatar creation.
  4. Enriched Interactions & Experience: The metaverse experience was further elevated by dividing students into batches as per their programs so that they could experience the ceremony with their batchmates. In addition, selfie areas were incorporated into the metaverse for the students to click selfies together and save these precious moments.
  5. Social Sharing: Social Media Integration with the Metaverse platform enabled students to express their sense of achievement with their community by sharing their selfies on LinkedIn and Facebook directly from the platform, instantly making the metaverse convocation ceremony a hit.
  6. Hybrid Metaverse Experience: A hybrid experience was created by incorporating the Live feed from the in-person event into the metaverse platform. A hybrid experience was created by incorporating the Live feed from the in-person event into the metaverse platform.

Photos taken by Students

Social Media Buzz

Results

Days of hard work yielded a closest-to-reality metaverse convocation that enabled students from across the globe to attend the event from the comfort of their homes and offices, with family and friends, delivering a precious experience that will remain in the hearts of countless students for years to come.