Categories

Social Sciences
, 
Education and Pedagogy

From MOOCs to Metaversities: The Evolution of Digital Academia

Authors

By 
Kusum Lata
Kusum Lata, Assistant Professor in Political Science, D. G. C. Gurugram, Haryana, India
Orcid https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2938-4129

Dr. Kusum Lata is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at DGC Gurugram, bringing over a decade of postgraduate teaching experience to her academic roles. A highly regarded scholar, she has frequently been invited to serve as a subject expert across various academic platforms. Her prolific research profile includes the publication of 15 research papers and 35 edited book chapters. Dr. Lata's recognized research expertise spans the intersections of social media and politics, higher education, and contemporary societal issues. She remains deeply dedicated to advancing academic discourse and fostering critical inquiry within political science and contemporary sociological frameworks.

STAR SCHOLARS PRESS

Published

Publication date : August 9, 2026

Synopsis

This chapter traces the evolution of digital academia from Massive Open Online Courses to emerging metaversities. It argues that MOOCs normalized large-scale online learning but also exposed limitations related to engagement, equity, completion, and social presence. The chapter then examines metaverse-enabled education as an attempt to create immersive, persistent, and collaborative virtual university environments. While highlighting the pedagogical promise of experiential learning, the chapter also addresses concerns around surveillance, access, platformization, faculty readiness, and quality assurance.

Copyright

Copyright (c) 2026 STAR SCHOLARS PRESS