UKDW’s Faculty of Information Technology Joins Asian Universities to Build a Metaverse Learning Ecosystem
The Faculty of Information Technology (FTI) at Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) has strengthened its internationalization efforts by signing a cooperation agreement with five partner institutions across Asia. Through this collaboration, FTI UKDW will develop a metaverse-based learning platform that enables academic communities to engage in cross-campus learning and research within a single integrated virtual environment.
The agreement was signed on March 4, 2026, at the University of the Philippines Open University in Los Baños, Philippines. Under the partnership, FTI UKDW will collaborate with the Faculty of Engineering at Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Chuo University (Japan), the University of the Philippines Open University (Philippines), Srinakharinwirot University (Thailand), and the Praboromarajchanok Institute (Thailand).
The collaboration is part of an international initiative titled MANGOs (Metaverse of Academic Nexus for Global Opportunities). Through this program, each participating institution will contribute learning and research content accessible online. The partners have also agreed to actively engage in ongoing educational and research exchanges using metaverse-based technology.
The platform will utilize Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and interactive 3D environments to create immersive virtual spaces. Through this approach, students and lecturers will be able to attend collaborative classes, conduct laboratory simulations, host research exhibitions, and develop cross-border projects within a real-time connected digital ecosystem.
FTI UKDW Dean Restyandito, S.Kom., M.SIS., Ph.D., explained that the collaboration has been in development since 2024. In its early stage, Prof. Lunchakorn Wuttisittikulkij from Chulalongkorn University and Prof. Somrudee Deepaisarn from Thammasat University visited UKDW to conduct a metaverse workshop and deliver public lectures for FTI lecturers and students.
“Following this visit, FTI UKDW sent two students to participate in a one-month internship program at Chulalongkorn University to develop DutaVerse, which serves as the initial foundation of the university’s metaverse ecosystem,” he said.
Looking ahead, the collaboration is expected to open several strategic opportunities for FTI UKDW. First, students will gain broader access to global learning experiences. Second, lecturers will be able to strengthen international research networks and collaborations. Third, the institution will have opportunities to test and demonstrate immersive technologies in academic settings. Ultimately, the partnership aims to foster more interactive and adaptive learning methods that are no longer limited by geographical boundaries.
W-ID: dito | Ed. (ENG): drr
