Vaal University of Technology (VUT), in partnership with CXI-Africa, is proud to announce that it will co-host the final face-to-face consortium meeting for the EU co-funded Metaverse Academy Project in Cape Town from 24 to 26 September 2026. Hosted at the Cape Town Creative Academy, this culminating event marks the successful conclusion of the three-year international initiative.
Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has served as a central operational partner in the EU co-funded Metaverse Academy Project, engaging in curriculum development, local capacity building, and applied research. Led by the Department of Visual Arts and Design, VUT developed and piloted specialized XR courses on the global MOOC platform, initiated internships through the VADinc digital media incubator, and integrated augmented reality into community heritage initiatives like the Telling Together project. Through these multi-layered interventions, VUT demonstrated how immersive technologies can bridge higher education, creative practice, and community empowerment.
The Centre for Digital Transformation and Innovation Africa (CXI-AFRICA) has complemented VUT’s academic and creative leadership by providing a strong industry, innovation, skills development, and ecosystem-building dimension to the project. CXI-AFRICA has played an instrumental role in translating the objectives of the Metaverse Academy into practical African industry and skills-development contexts, supporting stakeholder mobilisation, awareness, recruitment, training, and engagement across higher education, TVET institutions, industry, government, and innovation ecosystems.
The selection of VUT and the Centre for Digital Transformation and Innovation Africa (CXI-Africa) to co-host the final face-to-face consortium meeting in September 2026 reflects their pivotal role in the project’s pan-African reach and overall success. Working in close synergy, VUT and CXI-Africa successfully drove awareness and recruitment, positioning South Africa as a top-enrolling country across the consortium’s international MOOC platform. Their successful delivery of high-profile initiatives—such as the Metaverse Academy XR Summit in May 2026—further established their capacity to convene academic, industry, and international stakeholders effectively.
Hosting the final gathering in Cape Town at the Cape Town Creative Academy (CTCA) provides a dynamic, design-forward setting that reflects the project’s convergence of digital innovation, creative industries, and higher education. The combined contribution of VUT and CXI-AFRICA firmly positions South Africa as a significant African hub for XR education, applied research, industry engagement, and digital transformation. The event enables the international consortium to consolidate key deliverables, finalize the EU reporting phase, and explore long-term partnerships—firmly cementing VUT and CXI-Africa as leaders in Africa’s digital transformation ecosystem.