by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – UBU, Africa’s platform for artificial intelligence (AI)-powered immersive experiences, has partnered with the University of South Africa (UNISA) to deliver groundbreaking metaverse events.
This has been in the presence of over 800 people, showcasing the transformative power of virtual environments in education and digital skills development.
The first event, the inaugural Advancing African Digital Humanities (AADH) Summit, hosted by The Advancing African Digital Humanities Ideation Hub (AADHiH), held virtually as a digital twin of the physical summit hosted at the Royal Elephant Hotel and Conference Centre in Pretoria, introduced a new standard for hybrid educational experiences.
The event featured live-streamed international keynote addresses, interactive workshops across three immersive breakout rooms, and an innovative gamification element through treasure hunts. Participants also interacted with UBU’s AI-driven personalities, including Nova, a sophisticated AI agent providing real-time event information, and the AI DJ, enabling students to craft original AI-generated music.
The summit’s dynamic programme, themed, “Reimagining Africa’s Knowledge Future in the Digital Humanities,” attracted academics, industry leaders, policymakers, students and technologists, providing a forum for critical discussions on leveraging digital humanities to shape Africa’s scholarly landscape. Participants lauded the event’s interactive nature and its seamless integration of AI and immersive technologies.
The second event, the Academic Development Open Virtual Hub (ADOVH) Student Digital Resilience Programme, was a virtual festival in the UBU’s Heartbeat Arena venue designed to equip hundreds of UNISA students with essential digital skills for the future. a
Over two days, students participated in workshops ranging from basic web literacy to advanced AI applications and joined Microsoft AI Hackathon.
“These innovative immersive experiences are redefining the way education is delivered and received,” said Denzil Chetty, Project Leader at the Advancing African Digital Humanities Ideation Hub.
Chetty said the collaboration with UBU had propelled UNISA into the future, making high-quality digital skills and knowledge more accessible and engaging.”
UBU is formerly Africacare.
Mic Mann, CEO of UBU, said collaborating with UNISA to deliver the virtual events showcased the tremendous potential exponential technologies had to empower African learners.
“We’re thrilled by the enthusiastic response and look forward to advancing immersive education even further,” Mann said.
The events marked milestones in blending virtual and physical worlds.
– CAJ News