Interest in the potential of the metaverse is skyrocketing. This virtual landscape shows promising innovations in the way an average user interacts with tech. Using a blend of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and blockchain technology, it promises to elevate user experience to new heights.

But it’s not just techies that are rejoicing. The metaverse will bring new marketing, brand-building, and sales opportunities for businesses of all sizes. And even more exciting – it promises to supercharge one of the globe’s fastest-growing entertainment sectors, gaming.

Those wanting to get in on the ground floor of the rapidly growing business and employment opportunities of the metaverse should carefully evaluate the advantages of a metaverse degree.

The metaverse is attracting some large investments from technology leaders, including Apple, Google, and Meta (previously known as Facebook). Even Microsoft has staked a claim to the immersive digital universes promised by Meta’s Metaverse.

With this much investment, it seems certain that the metaverse is here to stay.

The metaverse provides a new generation of business leaders and innovators a unique opportunity in this fast-evolving space. For these aspirant leaders, leveraging the opportunities of the metaverse will require a multidisciplinary degree. Those equipped with this specialized education will be in a prime position to enter the rapidly evolving metaverse-related employment market and adapt to the digital landscape’s changes.

Best On- and Off-Line Metaverse Degrees

Citibank estimates that the pool of metaverse users could top 5 billion by 2030 and that by then, metaverse business may be worth around $13 trillion.

The potentially explosive growth of metaverse career opportunities means that choosing the right provider of on or offline degree courses is essential. Given increasing demand, it is no surprise that some of the most respected technology-focused higher education institutions are providing some cutting-edge options for advanced study. These institutions embrace a multidisciplinary approach to the intersection of technology, business, and creativity.

Here are the five best metaverse degrees currently available:

Carnegie Mellon University – The Master of Human-Computer Interaction (MHCI) Program

This three-semester program consists of core courses such as the Capstone course – a seven-month R&D team project with an external industry client. The offering from Carnegie-Mellon claims to be the first program dedicated to preparing innovators and professionals for a career in human-computer interaction, user experience design, and user-focused research.

The University of Washington – MSc in Human-Centered Design and Engineering (HCDE)

The University of Washington MSC is a flexible course that offers a part-time or full-time degree. The program’s core courses include Theoretical Foundations of Human-Centered Design & Engineering, Navigating Design in Organizational Contexts, Visual Communication, and User-Centered Design.

University of Queensland – Master of Interaction Design

The University of Queensland’s course takes two years to complete, one of the lengthiest on this list. It incorporates core courses such as Design Thinking, Digital Prototyping, Human-Computer Interaction, and Social and Mobile Computing. Rather than focusing on the technology that will power the metaverse, this master’s degree focuses on how users interact with virtual environments. Those who qualify will become Interaction Designers, creating user-friendly and accessible digital products.

UCL (London, England) – The Human-Computer Interaction MSc

The UCL 12-month degree program is focused on sharpening their students’ real-world skills, with courses such as Interaction Design, Interaction Science, and the MSc HCI Project. This interdisciplinary MSc is centered on practical and professional skills related to the design and use of computer and mobile technology, with a concentration on interface usability.

University of Southern California (USC) – Master of Fine Arts in Interactive Media

As the lengthiest program on this list at three years, the USC degree features core courses such as Experiments in Interactivity, Design for Interactive Media Units, Survey of Interactive Media, Experiments in Interactivity, and Interactive Design and Production. The master’s program at USC prepares students for careers in the fast-growing field of interactive entertainment. It is suitable for those who do not have advanced computer capabilities and are unfamiliar with computer-based scripting. However, knowledge of computer-based authoring and production techniques will be useful.

OPIT’s Revolutionary Approach to Metaverse Education

Future-proof your qualification with an online Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Modern Computer Science from the Open Institute of Technology (OPIT). OPIT’s metaverse degree is the key to understanding and leveraging the latest developments in the field of interactive technology.

The elective choices offered by OPIT also allow students to master various metaverse-related competencies and tailor their degrees to suit their anticipated career path. Here are two examples of popular classes students are taking right now:

Specialization in Leadership and Business Development for the Metaverse

For those professionals who want to play a pivotal role in leading the metaverse revolution, this elective is a must. It examines how the metaverse is poised to disrupt existing business models through innovative digital asset management in a virtual environment. The course also examines the commercial applications of metaverse technology and how the metaverse leaders of tomorrow will use practical skills with real-world applicability to usher in a new wave of immersive opportunities.

Diving Into Project Methodology and Visual Communication

Electives such as “Project Methodology and Visual Communication” will equip the aspirant metaverse professional with the project management skills to master the virtual worlds of gaming and Meta’s Metaverse itself. Students will master topics such as agile project management, effective visual storytelling in virtual realities, and UI/UX design principles for immersive environments.

Why Choose OPIT for Your Metaverse Education?

Only those educational institutions that grasp the revolutionary nature of the metaverse can equip professionals with the skills and qualifications they require to become Masters of the Metaverse.

OPIT is fully accredited under the European Qualification Framework and the MFHEA (Malta Further and Higher Education Authority). It’s committed to providing the metaverse leadership of tomorrow with the skills they need to dominate the metaverse market.

Many institutions of higher learning offer foundational courses that will equip professionals with the skills required for a metaverse-focused career. OPIT is different because it provides students with real-world skills that can be leveraged from the day they obtain their degree. The theoretical underpinnings of these skills are delivered by recognized industry experts and innovators, providing students with insights that make a real difference in their chosen careers.

Dive Into the Metaverse With the Right Degree

The metaverse may be made of pixels, but it is real – and it’s here. The rise of the metaverse, a fast-evolving platform at the intersection of the digital and physical world, is set to entwine every aspect of our offline identity with a digital existence. But to enter this exciting field, you need the right degree.

A metaverse degree providing practical, real-world skills is required to dominate this ever-evolving digital space. An affordable, fast-track degree from OPIT will provide you with a comprehensive foundation of skills, theoretical and applicative, and marketable, to place you exactly where you need to be – at the forefront of this exhilarating frontier. Get ready to harness the potential of virtual realms with a metaverse degree from OPIT.

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CCN: Australia Tightens Crypto Oversight as Exchanges Expand, Testing Industry’s Appetite for Regulation
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology
Mar 31, 2025 3 min read

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  • CCN, published on March 29th, 2025

By Kurt Robson

Over the past few months, Australia’s crypto industry has undergone a rapid transformation following the government’s proposal to establish a stricter set of digital asset regulations.

A series of recent enforcement measures and exchange launches highlight the growing maturation of Australia’s crypto landscape.

Experts remain divided on how the new rules will impact the country’s burgeoning digital asset industry.

New Crypto Regulation

On March 21, the Treasury Department said that crypto exchanges and custody services will now be classified under similar rules as other financial services in the country.

“Our legislative reforms will extend existing financial services laws to key digital asset platforms, but not to all of the digital asset ecosystem,” the Treasury said in a statement.

The rules impose similar regulations as other financial services in the country, such as obtaining a financial license, meeting minimum capital requirements, and safeguarding customer assets.

The proposal comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor government prepares for a federal election on May 17.

Australia’s opposition party, led by Peter Dutton, has also vowed to make crypto regulation a top priority of the government’s agenda if it wins.

Australia’s Crypto Growth

Triple-A data shows that 9.6% of Australians already own digital assets, with some experts believing new rules will push further adoption.

Europe’s largest crypto exchange, WhiteBIT, announced it was entering the Australian market on Wednesday, March 26.

The company said that Australia was “an attractive landscape for crypto businesses” despite its complexity.

In March, Australia’s Swyftx announced it was acquiring New Zealand’s largest cryptocurrency exchange for an undisclosed sum.

According to the parties, the merger will create the second-largest platform in Australia by trading volume.

“Australia’s new regulatory framework is akin to rolling out the welcome mat for cryptocurrency exchanges,” Alexander Jader, professor of Digital Business at the Open Institute of Technology, told CCN.

“The clarity provided by these regulations is set to attract a wave of new entrants,” he added.

Jader said regulatory clarity was “the lifeblood of innovation.” He added that the new laws can expect an uptick “in both local and international exchanges looking to establish a foothold in the market.”

However, Zoe Wyatt, partner and head of Web3 and Disruptive Technology at Andersen LLP, believes that while the new rules will benefit more extensive exchanges looking for more precise guidelines, they will not “suddenly turn Australia into a global crypto hub.”

“The Web3 community is still largely looking to the U.S. in anticipation of a more crypto-friendly stance from the Trump administration,” Wyatt added.

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Agenda Digitale: Generative AI in the Enterprise – A Guide to Conscious and Strategic Use
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology
Mar 31, 2025 6 min read

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By Zorina Alliata, Professor of Responsible Artificial Intelligence e Digital Business & Innovation at OPIT – Open Institute of Technology

Integrating generative AI into your business means innovating, but also managing risks. Here’s how to choose the right approach to get value

The adoption of generative AI in the enterprise is growing rapidly, bringing innovation to decision-making, creativity and operations. However, to fully exploit its potential, it is essential to define clear objectives and adopt strategies that balance benefits and risks.

Over the course of my career, I have been fortunate to experience firsthand some major technological revolutions – from the internet boom to the “renaissance” of artificial intelligence a decade ago with machine learning.

However, I have never seen such a rapid rate of adoption as the one we are experiencing now, thanks to generative AI. Although this type of AI is not yet perfect and presents significant risks – such as so-called “hallucinations” or the possibility of generating toxic content – ​​it fills a real need, both for people and for companies, generating a concrete impact on communication, creativity and decision-making processes.

Defining the Goals of Generative AI in the Enterprise

When we talk about AI, we must first ask ourselves what problems we really want to solve. As a teacher and consultant, I have always supported the importance of starting from the specific context of a company and its concrete objectives, without inventing solutions that are as “smart” as they are useless.

AI is a formidable tool to support different processes: from decision-making to optimizing operations or developing more accurate predictive analyses. But to have a significant impact on the business, you need to choose carefully which task to entrust it with, making sure that the solution also respects the security and privacy needs of your customers .

Understanding Generative AI to Adopt It Effectively

A widespread risk, in fact, is that of being guided by enthusiasm and deploying sophisticated technology where it is not really needed. For example, designing a system of reviews and recommendations for films requires a certain level of attention and consumer protection, but it is very different from an X-ray reading service to diagnose the presence of a tumor. In the second case, there is a huge ethical and medical risk at stake: it is necessary to adapt the design, control measures and governance of the AI ​​to the sensitivity of the context in which it will be used.

The fact that generative AI is spreading so rapidly is a sign of its potential and, at the same time, a call for caution. This technology manages to amaze anyone who tries it: it drafts documents in a few seconds, summarizes or explains complex concepts, manages the processing of extremely complex data. It turns into a trusted assistant that, on the one hand, saves hours of work and, on the other, fosters creativity with unexpected suggestions or solutions.

Yet, it should not be forgotten that these systems can generate “hallucinated” content (i.e., completely incorrect), or show bias or linguistic toxicity where the starting data is not sufficient or adequately “clean”. Furthermore, working with AI models at scale is not at all trivial: many start-ups and entrepreneurs initially try a successful idea, but struggle to implement it on an infrastructure capable of supporting real workloads, with adequate governance measures and risk management strategies. It is crucial to adopt consolidated best practices, structure competent teams, define a solid operating model and a continuous maintenance plan for the system.

The Role of Generative AI in Supporting Business Decisions

One aspect that I find particularly interesting is the support that AI offers to business decisions. Algorithms can analyze a huge amount of data, simulating multiple scenarios and identifying patterns that are elusive to the human eye. This allows to mitigate biases and distortions – typical of exclusively human decision-making processes – and to predict risks and opportunities with greater objectivity.

At the same time, I believe that human intuition must remain key: data and numerical projections offer a starting point, but context, ethics and sensitivity towards collaborators and society remain elements of human relevance. The right balance between algorithmic analysis and strategic vision is the cornerstone of a responsible adoption of AI.

Industries Where Generative AI Is Transforming Business

As a professor of Responsible Artificial Intelligence and Digital Business & Innovation, I often see how some sectors are adopting AI extremely quickly. Many industries are already transforming rapidly. The financial sector, for example, has always been a pioneer in adopting new technologies: risk analysis, fraud prevention, algorithmic trading, and complex document management are areas where generative AI is proving to be very effective.

Healthcare and life sciences are taking advantage of AI advances in drug discovery, advanced diagnostics, and the analysis of large amounts of clinical data. Sectors such as retail, logistics, and education are also adopting AI to improve their processes and offer more personalized experiences. In light of this, I would say that no industry will be completely excluded from the changes: even “humanistic” professions, such as those related to medical care or psychological counseling, will be able to benefit from it as support, without AI completely replacing the relational and care component.

Integrating Generative AI into the Enterprise: Best Practices and Risk Management

A growing trend is the creation of specialized AI services AI-as-a-Service. These are based on large language models but are tailored to specific functionalities (writing, code checking, multimedia content production, research support, etc.). I personally use various AI-as-a-Service tools every day, deriving benefits from them for both teaching and research. I find this model particularly advantageous for small and medium-sized businesses, which can thus adopt AI solutions without having to invest heavily in infrastructure and specialized talent that are difficult to find.

Of course, adopting AI technologies requires companies to adopt a well-structured risk management strategy, covering key areas such as data protection, fairness and lack of bias in algorithms, transparency towards customers, protection of workers, definition of clear responsibilities regarding automated decisions and, last but not least, attention to environmental impact. Each AI model, especially if trained on huge amounts of data, can require significant energy consumption.

Furthermore, when we talk about generative AI and conversational models , we add concerns about possible inappropriate or harmful responses (so-called “hallucinations”), which must be managed by implementing filters, quality control and continuous monitoring processes. In other words, although AI can have disruptive and positive effects, the ultimate responsibility remains with humans and the companies that use it.

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