Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU Celebrates December 2020 Graduates in Virtual Reality with Avatar Robots, Holographic Commencement Speakers and Awards Delivered by a Drone

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PHOENIX, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-- Class of 2020 honored in commencement ceremony featuring telepresence robots

   in a VR version of the school's new building, hologram speeches and the Dean

   piloting a drone

Delivering an innovative and inclusive experience fit for this historic year,

Thunderbird safely recognized the academic accomplishments of its class of 2020

in a technology-enhanced graduation celebration today to close an unprecedented

fall semester.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eNrs0tpTeU

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDGRUfdmCIM

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1384506/Thunderbird_Stills_11.jpg

Logo -

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1166196/Thunderbird_School_of_Global_Management_Logo.jpg

The online event (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3011353-1&h=2292607753&u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F5eNrs0tpTeU&a=online+event )

took place within an immersive virtual reality rendering of Thunderbird's new

global headquarters, opening August 2021. The ceremony was held in a digital

version of the global forum, which will be a centerpiece of the state-of-the-art facility.

The commencement speaker appeared as a holographic projection within the virtual

building, which mirrors the real headquarters under construction now. Outstanding

graduates also had a special aerial delivery (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3011353-1&h=3112090948&u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FRDGRUfdmCIM&a=special+aerial+delivery )

of their award certificates, courtesy of the Dean's drone.

"The Coronavirus Pandemic has accelerated the adoption of transformative new

technologies like the ones we're pioneering at Thunderbird that help us stay

healthy while connecting us so we can still learn and celebrate together," said

Director General and Dean, Dr. Sanjeev Khagram.

"In keeping with our commitment to impactful and inclusive innovation when

others retreat, we're harnessing these powerful tools not only to adapt to the

challenging circumstances of this historic health crisis, but also to be a

vanguard in business, leadership, and management education for the Fourth

Industrial Revolution going forward. As the most global and digital leadership,

management and business academy in the world, we're proud to celebrate our 2020

graduates and their families in a way that transcends limitations and

highlights the future-ready skills and experience they gained at Thunderbird.

Next, we look forward to welcoming our fall 2021 class to the most cutting-edge

educational facility anywhere," Khagram said.

About Thunderbird School of Global Management (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3011353-1&h=1943658178&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D2799872-1%26h%3D992049820%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fthunderbird.asu.edu%252F%26a%3DAbout%2BThunderbird%2BSchool%2Bof%2BGlobal%2BManagement&a=About+Thunderbird+School+of+Global+Management )

Thunderbird School of Global Management is a unit of the Arizona State

University Enterprise. For 75 years, Thunderbird has been the vanguard of

global management and leadership education, creating inclusive and sustainable

prosperity worldwide by educating future-ready global leaders capable of

tackling the world's greatest challenges. Thunderbird's Master of Global

Management was ranked #1 in the world for 2019 by the Wall Street Journal/Times

Higher Education. ASU is ranked No. 1 "Most Innovative School" in the nation by

U.S. News & World Report for six years in succession.

About ASU (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3011353-1&h=3737932226&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D2799872-1%26h%3D1200685138%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.asu.edu%252Fabout%26a%3DAbout%2BASU&a=About+ASU )

Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research

University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence,

and, impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it

excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research

that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for

the economic, social, and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.

CONTACT:

Jonathan Ward – Thunderbird Media Relations

Jonathan.Ward@thunderbird.asu.edu

+1 480.490.9773

Download Media (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3011353-1&h=83785007&u=https%3A%2F%2Fc212.net%2Fc%2Flink%2F%3Ft%3D0%26l%3Den%26o%3D2799872-1%26h%3D796900545%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.dropbox.com%252Fsh%252Fihnf4s1sv8e97su%252FAADU6jO4ma87KolpZoLOyQ4ra%253Fdl%253D0%26a%3DDownload%2BMedia&a=Download+Media )

https://thunderbird.asu.edu/convocation

SOURCE: Thunderbird School of Global Management