The metaverse is undergoing rapid and transformative changes, yet it has thus far lacked a comprehensive scholarly examination from a global and comparative standpoint. This book addresses this gap by introducing fresh perspectives and frameworks across various domains within the metaverse, including law, economics, and finance. Drawing upon the expertise of an international cohort of scholars and practitioners, this volume illuminates emerging interdisciplinary insights with global relevance, facilitating a comparative analysis of diverse aspects of the metaverse. Timely and essential, this book contributes significantly to the metaverse literature, addressing urgent issues in this evolving landscape.

In recent years, historians across the world have become increasingly interested in transnational and global approaches to the past. However, the debates surrounding this new border-crossing movement have remained limited in scope as theoretical exchanges on the tasks, responsibilities and potentials of global history have been largely confined to national or regional academic communities. In this groundbreaking book, Dominic Sachsenmaier sets out to redress this imbalance by offering a series of new perspectives on the global and local flows, sociologies of knowledge and hierarchies that are an intrinsic part of historical practice. Taking the United States, Germany and China as his main case studies, he reflects upon the character of different approaches to global history as well as their social, political and cultural contexts. He argues that this new global trend in historiography needs to be supported by a corresponding increase in transnational dialogue, cooperation and exchange.

Libraries as social and service-based institutions are constantly seeking innovative and effective ways to meet the needs of their users and maintain relevance amidst alternative information sources. They are constantly adjusting to meet the needs of users, contribute to the personal development of users, and alight with national development. All of these have placed a burden on libraries to engage in sustainable practices both to increase their capacity to drive current developmental endeavors and to sustain future relevance. Global Perspectives on Sustainable Library Practices provides a rich and robust knowledge resource that brings together diverse sustainable library practices that will revamp library operations towards optimally meeting the current objectives of libraries as a developmental institution as well as sustaining value for future operations and service transactions. Covering topics such as access efficacy, green space development, and library service delivery, this premier reference source is an essential resource for librarians, library administrators, educators and administration of both K-12 and higher education, students of library sciences, pre-service teachers, researchers, and academicians.

Transnational higher education was triggered largely by the marketization of higher education, which itself manifests in such characteristics as academic rankings, institutional branding, and an emphasis on managerialism. Recent advances in technology, and the global COVID-19 pandemic, have also driven a “virtual” internationalization of higher education, with universities expanding their digital footprints overseas, accelerating their distance education offerings, and exploring such innovations as virtual exchange programs. Global Perspectives on the Internationalization of Higher Education documents contemporary perspectives on the internationalization of higher education and considers its history throughout the years in order to understand potential future directions. Covering key topics such as student recruitment, institutional branding, and student mobility, this premier reference source is ideal for administrators, principals, researchers, academicians, practitioners, scholars, instructors, and students.

Millions of patients travel abroad every year, and the number of trips around the world to benefit from health services is increasing. The high level of global demand for health services has influenced the rapid development of the tourism industry. Many destinations providing high-quality healthcare services at low prices have emerged. Due to these developments in the industry, the health tourism market, one of the fastest growing markets, has emerged. Countries operating in the industry are also striving to increase their market shares. Therefore, it is important to understand the dynamics of this global phenomenon. Global Perspectives on the Opportunities and Future Directions of Health Tourism provides new theoretical, practical, and strategic insights into the field of health tourism. It discusses in detail the health tourism industry and its importance for the global economy, countries, and destinations. Covering topics such as elderly consumers, historical development, and image and branding, this premier reference source is an essential resource for government officials, hospital administrators, policymakers, business managers and executives, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

Each new technological innovation creates new opportunities in the field of education and affects the learning preferences of individuals. In this respect, it is important to investigate the ways to use these technologies in education to ensure learners receive the best possible education. Shaping the Future of Online Learning: Education in the Metaverse discusses up-to-date knowledge and experience regarding emerging technologies, processes, and applications for online learning. The book also provides a guide for technology enthusiasts, online course designers, and institutions that facilitate the innovative technologies in online learning. Covering critical topics such as augmented reality, virtual reality, immersive learning, and gamification, this reference work is ideal for instructional designers, educational software developers, programmers, teachers, policymakers, administrators, principals, industry professionals, researchers, scholars, practitioners, academicians, instructors, and students.