19 The Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas (EMIA), in collaboration with the Computational Media and ArtThrust Area (CMA) at HKUST(GZ), offers the first cross-disciplinary, cross-campus, and cross-reality course “EMIA 6500C: Metaverse Cross-disciplinary DesignThinking” to students from the Clear Water Bay and Guangzhou campuses. Introduced in Fall 2023, this innovative course creates a unique learning experience that transcends traditional educational boundaries. Led by Dr. ZHANG Rong, Senior Lecturer of EMIA and Prof. HUI Pan, Chair Professor of CMA, the course employs design thinking methodologies and advanced virtual reality (VR) technologies to establish a metaverse classroom. This immersive environment effectively overcomes the limitations of physical distance, enabling students to engage in interactive and collaborative learning. With ten students from each campus, Dr. Zhang and Prof. Hui explore how VR technologies can be used to address pain points in traditional education, and to facilitate immersive and interactive teaching and learning for students and instructors who are in different physical locations. Throughout the course, students utilize various teaching and learning tools, such as virtual whiteboards and interactive team-building objects, fostering creativity and innovation.The metaverse classroom offers surreal learning experiences that extend beyond what is possible in the physical world. The Fall 2023 course culminated in a virtual roadshow on December 1, 2023, where students and guests from both campuses engaged in immersive interactions within the metaverse.This pioneering initiative not only demonstrated the potential of virtual reality technologies in higher education, but also provided valuable insights for the future of metaverse education. This course represents a significant collaborative effort under the “Unified HKUST, Complementary Campuses” framework, garnering attention from local and national media for its groundbreaking approach to educational innovation. The First Cross-disciplinary, Cross-campus, and Cross-reality Course at HKUST International Business Plan Competition The Dual Degree Program inTechnology and Management offers a valuable cross-cultural learning experience – International Business Plan Competition, allowing students to learn the underlying ingredients for business success, including hard work, building trust across cultures, innovation and mastery of emerging technology. Co-organized with renowned institutions from the U.S., Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, etc., students work in multicultural teams to develop creative and viable business plans for an emerging technology in hosting regions. Over the years, students have visited Silicon Valley, Sao Paulo, Bayreuth, Singapore, Shanghai, Guangzhou and many more locations to explore topics such as mobility and logistics, AI, 3D printing, unmanned aerial vehicles, smart transportation and health tech.This initiative generates numerous innovative ideas that serve as solid foundations for students to develop creative solutions to real-world problems.
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