FICS Dean, Dr. Roberto Figueroa, Jr. (third from right) and his mentee, Mr. Liam Iñaki Gillamac (rightmost), pose with ECTI-CON 2025 session chairs, Dr. Budi Halim Santoso of Duta Wacana Christian University, Indonesia, and Dr. Matsunori Makino of Chuo University, Japan along with other presenters from Chulalongkorn University.
At the forefront of immersive technology in education, Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa, Jr., from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), delivered an insightful presentation during the parallel and tutorial sessions of the 22nd International Conference on Electrical Engineering/Electronics, Computer, Telecommunications and Information Technology (ECTI-CON 2025), held on 22 May 2025 at the Montien Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. Titled “Immersive Learning Frontiers: Exploring the Potential of Metaverse and XR in Education and Training,” the tutorial session was among the highlights of ECTI-CON 2025.
Dr. Figueroa’s talk drew from his co-authored paper with experts in the field from various reputable universities in Asia, Metaverse and Collaborative Educational Ecosystem, which explored the transformative role of Virtual Reality (VR) tours in fostering a collaborative educational ecosystem across ASEAN. Their study demonstrated how immersive VR can bridge cultural and geographical boundaries, enabling scalable and inclusive learning environments. By leveraging VR, educational institutions can create shared virtual spaces that promote intercultural collaboration and enhance the learning experience.
Central to the discussion was the Metaverse Academic Nexus for Global Opportunities (MANGOs) initiative, a growing network that aims to create a virtual ecosystem connecting researchers across Asia. MANGOs focuses on applying immersive technologies in various sectors, including education, tourism, retail, and healthcare. Dr. Figueroa emphasized the initiative’s educational dimension, particularly its ability to promote cross-cultural collaboration and understanding through immersive learning platforms.
BAMS student-interns at Chulalongkorn University, Mathieu Emocling, Sherwin Fiel, and presenter, Liam Gillamac (1st to 3rd from left); Jaden Tomacruz and Jewel Gatchalian (2nd and 3rd from right), and Dean Figueroa (5th from right) with the organizers and other presenters at the ECTI-CON 2025.
He also accompanied the presentation of his mentee, Mr. Liam Iñaki Gillamac, who recently graduated magna cum laude at UP Cebu and worked with him as a lab intern at the Immersive Spatial Technologies and Realities Labs (ISTaR Labs) at FICS. Also present at the event were FICS Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) students Mathieu Zachary Emocling, Sherwin Elijah Fiel, Jewel Claire Gatchalian, and Jana Denise Tomacruz, who served as interns at Chulalongkorn University and assisted in the event’s implementation. Their participation exemplified student involvement in shaping the future of technology-enhanced education in the region.
Dr. Figueroa’s contribution at ECTI-CON 2025 underscored the growing relevance of immersive technologies in global education and the critical role academic institutions play in driving innovation toward more inclusive, connected, and culturally responsive learning environments.
Written by Joy Abigail Rebulanan | Edited by Roberto Figueroa, Jr.
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