UNIC Presents NEOLAiA Findings on DEI in the Metaverse at the Industry 5.0 Summit

Representing the University of Nicosia (UNIC), Tonia Damvakeraki, PhD Researcher at the Institute of the Future (IFF), participated in the panel on “Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 for Society, Education and Industry 5.0”, during the Industry 5.0 Summit held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 26 November 2025, highlighting how immersive environments are moving from experimental pilots to infrastructures for learning, collaboration and public services. She underlined that virtual worlds are no longer just entertainment spaces, but core components of next‑generation digital societies, enabling virtual campuses, simulation-based training and new modes of civic engagement.

Drawing on recent literature on diversity and inclusion in the metaverse (stemming from the work done for the NEOLAiA project), Damvakeraki stressed that this transition will only be beneficial if equity, representation and accessibility are embedded from the outset. She referred to evidence that many users still find current platforms insufficiently inclusive and that avatar design, accessibility features and moderation practices strongly influence who feels able to participate. Inclusive virtual worlds, she argued, require co-creation with marginalised communities, user‑centered design and governance frameworks that actively address harassment, bias and safety.

In connecting these insights to Web 4.0 policy debates, Tonia emphasised that Europe has a strategic opportunity to lead with open standards, interoperability and robust, value-driven governance that treats the metaverse as a shared digital common. By aligning innovation with diversity, equity and inclusion, she concluded, virtual worlds can support more just and participatory digital futures in education, work and civic life.

This article forms part of the work carried out within NEOLAiA Work Package 3 (WP3), which explores pathways towards more inclusive and responsible immersive environments.