Embracing this new normal, a university has come up with a unique way to award degrees to students: using virtual reality.
The avatars of more than 2,000 students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay received their certificates from an avatar of the IIT director, Subhasis Chaudhuri, during a ceremony on Sunday.
The unique celebration, designed to comply with coronavirus safety measures, was broadcast on two local television channels, as well as YouTube and Facebook Live, according to a statement from the Indian government's Press Information Office (PIB).
"The Institute thought it best to organize a virtual reality call for graduate students in order not to put their health at risk but at the same time not deprive them of the sense of achievement and pride of passing from India's leading engineering institute "the statement reads.
IIT is one of the most prestigious technical universities in India, known for producing Silicon Valley titans like Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
Students were also able to "wander through a virtual campus, visit their hostels and apartments virtually, and meet their friends and professors," said PIB.
Students also posted online about
"Honored to receive a PhD at the 58th Convocation @iitbombay. The Committee presented everyone with a cool custom avatar," Deepank Verma wrote alongside a GIF of his avatar receiving a diploma.
Duncan Haldane, joint winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics and professor at Princeton University, USA, was invited as the main guest at the ceremony.
"There is a lesson for everyone involved in the investigation," Haldane said in the statement. Even if you are involved in a very goal-oriented project, try to find a small part of your time to investigate the unexpected curiosities that sometimes appear along the way. "
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi , tweeted about the ceremony Tuesday, calling it a "Wonderful blend of tradition and technology."
Schools in the US have also held online graduations or car celebrations, while others are postponing the ones. ceremonies in the hopes of being able to perform them in person.
A Pennsylvania school devised a Hollywood-themed event that turned its 141 seniors into stars on the big screen for the night and celebration of the ceremony at a drive-in.
Hanover-area high school students and families watched from their cars as prerecorded speeches were projected, pre photo slide shows and individual recognition. the theater screen.
CNN's Manveena Suri contributed to this report.
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