Abstract The metaverse is a digitally created virtual world that can be explored through extended reality, allowing individuals to engage with one another using avatars. As the metaverse becomes more widely used, it is becoming increasingly important to comprehend its impact on individuals and society. This paper presents a case where the metaverse was used to evaluate collaborative online international learning (COIL) activities while empowering participants by showcasing their creativity as contributors to the open educational resources collective through virtual exhibits. The exhibitors were participants in a COIL initiative involving online activities that aimed to facilitate cross-cultural exchanges and global learning among universities in three countries: the USA, Japan, and the Philippines. Data collected from 82 virtual exhibits in the metaverse were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, revealing benefits related to cultural exchange, personal growth, and positive learning experiences. Furthermore, reflections collected from the virtual exhibits were more profound and expressive than text-based platforms, suggesting that creative processes in visually stimulating environments like the metaverse could promote critical and out-of-the-box thinking among individuals.