Two-way knowledge transfer among university academics, young entrepreneurs, NGOs and students in STEM and IoT metaverses: Conceptual model, research agendas and contextual challenges

This paper presents an innovative metaverse design through collaborations among university academics, industry entrepreneurs, NGOs and students through a two-way knowledge transfer (KT) model. Unlike previous one-way KT approaches, this paper endeavors to formulate an interactive two-way KT conceptual model with evaluation of creative technological products, entrepreneur coaching programs and social caring services through (Arts/Green/Sports) STEM and IoT Metaverses. In the top layer of the KT model, one gigantic integrative network of academics, scientists and creative technologists work as a big data pool to provide high-tech professional knowledge. In the lower layers, collaborations among university academics, technology developers, industry entrepreneurs, NGOs and students work out knowledge-building community-of-practices using youth entrepreneur leadership models to develop technological products and provide services. For sustainability of knowledge transfer, educational/social funds will be used to support student activities financially. Participating young entrepreneurs care the elderly and disadvantaged people and develop their moral conscience during some STEM activities in empathic societies. Noteworthy, this paper presents five key features of decentralization, immersive properties, digital currency ecosystems (using blockchain technology), social experiences and persistency in the construction of met connecting real and virtual worlds. It also shows valuable learning experiences of participating students in STEM, game-based learning and IoT metaverses to testify the feasibility of knowledge transfer. Future research agendas in knowledge transfer in metaverses and contextual challenges will be addressed through action project reflection in the paper. Copyright © 2022 Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education.