Partner of USM, University of São Paulo (USP) Achieves Top Spot in QS World University Rankings

The University of São Paulo (USP), partner of USM, has reached remarkable milestones in the academic and digital realms. Not only has USP secured the first position in the QS World University Rankings for the Latin American and Caribbean region, but it has also made its debut in the prestigious “top 100” list of the world’s best educational institutions, according to the 20th edition of the QS World University Rankings.

This monumental achievement marks a significant moment in the history of USP, reinforcing its commitment to excellence in education and research. USP is not only excelling in the physical world but also embracing the digital frontier, as it became the first Brazilian university to establish a presence in the metaverse, specifically in the USM.

The metaverse structure built by USP offers diverse forms of interaction for users and is open for meetings, gatherings, and workshops. The partnership between USP and USM was forged last year, and as part of this collaboration, USP received virtual land in the USM metaverse in the form of a non-fungible token (NFT).

According to Professor Marcos A. Simplicio Jr., Head of Department of Computer Science at USP, this marks the first instance of the university acquiring an NFT as part of its assets. Additionally, Professor Simplicio expressed that USP intends to construct various spaces to facilitate interactions among users, including students, faculty, researchers, and visitors.

USP revealed that the initial phase of this collaboration will involve joint efforts with researchers from the University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), an initiative that has previously received sponsorship from Ripple and is based at the School of Engineering. USP envisions conducting research within the metaverse across various domains. Notably, the institution highlighted research in the fields of education and psychology, which could assess learning and behavior during classes and interactions conducted within this virtual environment.

This partnership reflects the commitment of both USP and USM to advancing education and research in innovative ways, embracing the opportunities presented by the digital age while simultaneously securing a prominent place on the global academic stage.