Avatars and virtual environments: Tec’s global meeting experience

Tec employees and managers experienced a new way of training and working as a team in a virtual reality environment similar to those used in video games.

This happened at the Internationalization Conference, where members of staff from the Tec Vice Rector’s Office for Internationalization used avatars to participate in exercises and conferences.

Patricia Montaño, Director of the Tec’s Internationalization Office, said that the meeting had been moved to a virtual environment due to the lockdown as a result of the pandemic.

“We wanted to do something different and, with a little creativity, we were able to communicate and go beyond just having a chat or a video conference on Zoom,” the director told CONECTA.

The Internationalization Conference is held annually to reinforce internal communication and bonding between those in charge of the internationalization of the Tec.

The fourth event, called “Crossing Borders through Collaboration”, took place on October 1 and 2 for 3 hours each day. It was attended by about 200 collaborators.

Also taking part were executives such as Juan Pablo Murra, Rector of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies at the Tec, and Hernán García, Vice President of Talent and Experience at the Tec.

The event -the first of its kind at the Tec- brought together collaborators from the Vice Rector’s Office who work in Mexico with those in countries such as the United Kingdom, Denmark, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Australia, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and Peru.

Training and interacting in a virtual world

The high school, undergraduate and graduate collaborators met on a virtual island, with a conference center, beach, sports facilities, boat rides, and even a lighthouse that they could climb using their avatars.

“You enter the platform as an interactive avatar and take part in the conferences. You can raise your hand, take the microphone, and ask a question”, explained Montaño.

In addition to training and focusing on issues such as teamwork in the new normal, she said that the collaborators participated in virtual activities such as a bingo, soccer, and even a concert.

“The intention is to grow as professionals, that’s why we’ve been talking about service and analyzing success stories; but it’s also been an opportunity to free ourselves from the pressure we’re feeling as a result of the pandemic.

“Being in a Zoom conference for five hours is definitely something you can do, but it becomes very monotonous. It lacks the playful element of relaxing, connecting with people, and having a reason to smile,” she shared.

The director said that these types of meetings seek to generate a better working environment which helps collaborators to have a positive attitude when dealing with students and parents.

Technology for internationalization

Montaño highlighted the use of technology in programs such as Global Classroom and Global Week, in which Tec students interact from home with students and teachers from other parts of the world.

“Technology and methodology are very important things: technology in the sense that we are making use of something that has been used by our students for many years.

“And methodology because we couldn’t do this if we didn’t have the support of the Digital Education department and its critical mass of academics and staff who know how to work online,” she explained.

The Global Classroom program includes 60 groups and 53 participating universities. Global Week also worked with around 10 groups as part of the Global Vision Tec Week.

They are also seeking to implement the Global Challenge, a project allowing students to work remotely on solving global challenges which will start up in future semesters.

“These formats are here to stay with or without a pandemic. We’re going to continue working on this internationalization from home format. 

“We know that even if situations improve and mobility returns, there will always be a Tec population that can take advantage of them,” she concluded.

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