EduSphere is a pioneering research initiative funded by the British Council’s International Science Partnership Fund (ISPF), bringing together Queen’s University Belfast, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Selayang Community College, and technology partner Soqqle. The project investigates how AI-driven avatars within a metaverse environment can promote educational equity, increase student engagement, and enhance learning outcomes.
A virtual project meeting was recently held with representatives from Queen’s University Belfast, Soqqle, and Selayang Community College to discuss progress and strategic implementation. Following this, a pilot session took place at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya, where students tested interactive features within a simulated metaverse learning environment.
Set within five thematic virtual zones—the Tech District, Green Zone, Cultural Quarter, Health Plaza, and Business Hub—the EduSphere platform utilises GPT-enabled avatars to deliver highly personalised and immersive learning experiences. Through scene-based experiments, the study compares student interaction and performance in both VR and non-VR settings, assessing the impact of AI-avatar engagement on participation and learning outcomes.
This initiative marks a significant step towards the future of inclusive and technology-enhanced education on a global scale.
