Immersive Virtual Environments in Higher Education: an Open-Source 3D World Adaptation Using Oculus Meta Quest

Virtual reality (VR) has become a key tool in education, although some students still struggle with focus, leading to high dropout rates. The goal of this research was to create a more engaging and effective learning environment through immersive technology, but high costs remain a barrier for low-budget educational institutions. This study evaluates the implementation of an open-source immersive VR (IVR) solution for education, combining OpenSimulator, Firestorm VR, SteamVR and Meta Quest 2, as a cost-effective alternative to commercial platforms. Through systematic hardware benchmarking, we demonstrate a cost reduction compared to commercial solutions while maintaining high performance through optimized hardware configurations. Comparative analysis reveals that open-source solutions offer superior customization and privacy control, although they require greater technical experience for implementation. These findings provide actionable guidelines for institutions adopting IVR, balancing performance and affordability.