Adam Mickiewicz University has successfully positioned itself at the forefront of educational technology innovation with the completion of the inaugural “Open Cutting-Edge Technologies Academia” - "OCETA Connect: AI/XR in Higher Education" event on June 23rd. This pioneering pilot conference, led by the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, brought together an international participation of universities to test a novel framework for immersive academic events managed with significant AI assistance.
The initiative, co-organized by AMU and the School of Management at HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Switzerland, also featured partners from the South East Technological University, Ireland, and the University of Québec, Canada. This collaboration underscores AMU's commitment to building strong international academic collaboration and experience exchange networks.
The conference was held in the "OCETA Connect Arena," a custom virtual reality environment built for the VRChat platform. This immersive venue was complemented by a robust hybrid format, integrated with MS Teams and YouTube live streaming to ensure broad accessibility for participants worldwide. This technical achievement was made possible through the inter-departmental expertise within the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, leveraging the Physics of Digital Electronics Laboratory and the PFA Computer Laboratory.
"Our vision for OCETA Connect was to leverage the unique, interdisciplinary expertise we have here at the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy," stated Wojciech Czart, OCETA Lead. "This pilot proved that our team could execute a dynamic international event in VR while pioneering a new 'Modus Operandi' for project management.
The event's theme, "AI/XR in Higher Education," was brought to life through a compelling series of presentations. Topics ranged from XR immersion, AI's role in scientific computation and its application in digital marketing to explorations of AI-supported brain-computer interfaces and the use of Large Language Models in research.
A key highlight of the event was the significant participation from AMU's own academic and student community. Alongside faculty presentations, the schedule prominently featured presentations from a Master's student, Miłosz Klim, of "Applications of the Internet of Things" and a Bachelor's student, Eryk Piasecki, of "Computer Technologies," both from the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy.
"Integrating our students into high-level international discourse is a cornerstone of our pedagogical approach," Czart explained. "The OCETA Connect platform provides an invaluable opportunity for them to present their work, gain experience, and network with a global community, demonstrating the practical, cutting-edge education we provide."
The initiative's success was bolstered by significant backing from within the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, including crucial support from the Dean’s Team, the Physics of Digital Electronics Laboratory, and the PFA Computer Laboratory.
The successful execution of this pilot event has provided a wealth of data and positive feedback. The organizing team at the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy will now analyze these findings to refine the framework, positioning Adam Mickiewicz University to lead future, larger-scale OCETA Connect events and solidifying its reputation as a global innovator in educational technology.
