Integrating AI and Metaverse Technologies for Cross-Disciplinary Research and Education: A Pathway to Sustainable Research Culture

Authors:  Dr Haider Al-Juboori, Dr Arun Sankar and Dr Abdulaleem Albadawi

Organisation:  South East Technological University

The integration of AI-driven avatars and Metaverse-based immersive environments in higher education presents a transformative approach to fostering an inclusive and engaged research culture. This initiative leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) to create interactive, accessible, and participatory research experiences. The proposed approach will addresses key challenges in modern academic environments by reducing traditional barriers to research participation, enhancing digital literacy, and supporting interdisciplinary collaboration.
The work aims to enhance research accessibility, support cross-disciplinary engagement, and strengthen research integrity. Through the development of a Metaverse prototype, students and early-career researchers can engage in real-time virtual collaboration, AI-assisted knowledge visualization, and interactive research simulations. Faculty training workshops will further integrate these tools into educational and research frameworks, ensuring widespread adoption.
A pilot study involving engineering and science students will assess the effectiveness of AI- and AR-driven research environments. Evaluation metrics include student engagement levels, knowledge retention, and interdisciplinary participation, measured through surveys, platform analytics, and qualitative feedback. Early results indicate increased research participation, improved accessibility, and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration.
By fostering a digitally fluent, inclusive, and transparent research ecosystem, this study provides a scalable model for sustaining research culture in higher education. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions on engaged participatory research, research careers, and the intersection of research integrity with digital transformation, ensuring an innovative and sustainable academic environment.