The Use of Metaverse for Intercultural Collaboration in Higher Education

The development of intercultural competencies enables individuals to have appropriate knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures and to interact and relate effectively in different multicultural settings. This document aims to present the status of a doctoral thesis investigating the advancement of intercultural and global competencies in university students using a Metaverse that fosters international collaboration. A status report is presented regarding the review of literature and the sequential-explanatory design of a mixed methodology for collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The objective is to use the findings to propose an innovative, technologically based educational model that enhances intercultural competencies in higher education students.


INTRODUCTION
Contemplating the ongoing developments that enable people to move freely throughout our world and the growing influence of technology in our daily lives, it becomes evident that we reside in a diverse and multicultural society.The most significant challenges of our era have a global reach.This is precisely where educational institutions assume a vital and proactive role in an ideal setting, where individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds engage in various activities willingly.Through such interactions, they foster empathy and promote awareness regarding the importance of collaboration and striving for collective well-being.

Problem
Successful international experiences often require in-person attendance, but not all students have the means to participate in an overseas program.Therefore, finding viable alternatives to facilitate such encounters is crucial.While videoconferencing and other platforms are utilized for inter-university activities, they do not fully replicate the connections between students as if they were in the same physical space.Metaverse aims to unite students from diverse countries in a unique educational setting that offers both enjoyment and an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of each other's cultures.

Relevance of the problem
From a global perspective, there has been a pressing need to initiate measures for progress, leading to the establishment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).These objectives were introduced and endorsed by all United Nations (UN) member states starting in 2015.Goal 17, known as "Partnerships for the goals" [3], underscores the importance of understanding, contributing to, and collaborating with others as the only viable means to achieve the goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda [13].It also emphasizes the need for international partnerships to mobilize resources and provide access to science, technology, and innovation [2].In the context of a knowledge-driven society, it is crucial to create environments that can address economic, technological, and global development challenges while finding more effective shared solutions through cooperation and collaboration.Essential components in tackling these challenges include advancing science, research, education, technology, and culture.The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an international entity dedicated to formulating better policies for enhancing the quality of life, focuses its efforts on the importance of students acquiring essential global competencies that align with the current demands of the world.These competencies are described as a multifaceted framework that requires a combination of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values effectively applied to global issues and intercultural scenarios.

Research objectives and inquiries
It is intended to investigate whether promoting the development of intercultural competencies among university students can foster positive collaboration among professionals of diverse nationalities, resulting in alternative global solutions that benefit the common good.Additionally, this study explores the possibility of facilitating intercultural encounters using emerging technologies, such as the Metaverse.

METHODOLOGY
The use of mixed methods for research in the field of social sciences and education is increasingly frequent since they focus on key aspects such as the human factor, the educational process, and processes that combine quantitative and qualitative strategies [9].This methodology [4] provides a better understanding of our research problem; therefore, the mixed methodology will be used in this research, allowing us to observe among university students and recently graduated professionals the relationship between intercultural competencies and the level of collaboration with professionals from other cultures.

Steps
The design used in this research will be sequential explanatory, QUAN -> QUAL, in two phases [7].In the first phase, a quantitative analysis will be carried out, applying Likert scale questionnaires, interviews (QUAL) and focus groups (QUAL).With this data, an innovative educational strategy for the development of intercultural competencies will be designed.In the second phase, the model will be applied to university students and deepened through qualitative instruments, interviews, observation, assessment rubric, and applying Likert scale questionnaires (QUAN).In the end, a report will be written to present the results of the research process.

Population and sample
The population is comprised of higher education students with and without a previous international educational experience from Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico and at least a second university outside Mexico for the implementation of the innovative educational strategy.For the selection of the sample, intentional (QUAL) but also probabilistic (QUAN) sampling will be used to select the participants.

Variables under study
Three variables have been established to carry out the research: a) intercultural competencies, b) collaboration among professionals from different cultures, c) innovative educational models to develop competencies.a) Intercultural Competencies encompass the possession of adequate and pertinent knowledge about specific cultures, fostering open-minded attitudes that promote the establishment and maintenance of connections with individuals from diverse cultures, and acquiring the skills necessary to leverage the exchange of cultural knowledge and perspectives when engaging with them [5].An integral aspect of intercultural competencies involves cultivating an understanding of different worldviews and possessing the adaptability to navigate them [10].b) Collaboration among professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds is a critical facet of students' education.Students should recognize the advantages of proactively initiating communication and cooperation with international peers.While they may acknowledge the relevance of intercultural communication in their future endeavors, it is crucial for them not to postpone the development of these skills until after graduation [1].Their capacity for intercultural comprehension and communication implies a grasp of differences and potential challenges in interactions with individuals from various cultural backgrounds [11].c) Innovative educational models for competency development are imperative in the realm of education.An educational model consists of four key dimensions: its overarching objectives (philosophy), its internal structure (theory), its practical guidance (policy), and its implementation (educational processes and practices).Given the current landscape, marked by the advancement and influence of new digital technologies, information, and communication media, there is a pressing need for changes in the teaching and learning processes that support social awareness and positive collaboration.Innovation, in this context, entails the introduction of new elements to modify, enhance, and transform the existing reality, thus shaping and improving it [8].

PROGRESS 3.1 Research papers related and how this work differs from them
There are research studies related to what it is developed in this work, it can be mentioned the following: 1) The role of intercultural virtual exchanges in global citizenship development [6] 2) Interculturality in the university context: initial training needs of future education professionals [14] 3) Stepping up the game-meeting the needs of global business through virtual team projects [12] These three investigations searched about the impact of regular virtual activities between studies from different nationalities and how it is necessary to develop cultural intelligence competencies in today's global world.This study distinguishes itself from previous research by concentrating on the utilization of emerging technologies to cultivate intercultural competencies and unite students from diverse cultural backgrounds in a virtual environment that mirrors the real world, known as the Metaverse.This allows for a more profound level of interaction among students.

Research findings and future directions
After conducting prior research, we executed the first stage as outlined in the Methodology by implementing the Metaverse strategy at five distinct Tecnologico de Monterrey campuses within Mexico, as well as at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso in Chile.As of now, our research findings indicate that: a) Students who have had exposure to international experiences demonstrate a heightened level of intercultural awareness, and b) students valued the collaboration experience through the Metaverse, which allowed them to learn about other cultures and become aware of their own development of intercultural competencies.They got involved in the process and enjoyed the activities.

Identifying omissions and exploring collaboration opportunities
It would be beneficial to facilitate an exchange program for Mexican students to interact with peers from universities worldwide.This undertaking would enable me to evaluate whether the strategies I have developed are applicable across different cultures and yield uniform results.