Using AI to Support Course Content at University of Westminster

Unlocking Hidden Learning Resources with “Maia” and “Liby”

The University of Westminster serves more than 20,000 students from over 140 countries. Known for its forward-thinking approach to digital engagement, the University partnered with LearnWise AI to explore new ways of enhancing student learning—starting with academic Q&A, quiz generation, and library navigation.

The Challenge: Supporting a Diverse, Global Student Population

Westminster’s student body is as diverse as its course offerings. To support equity, the University needed a way to:

• Make learning resources more accessible across cultures and languages
  
• Offer timely academic support outside of traditional office hours
  
• Free up academic and support staff from repetitive queries
  
• Understand how students engage with their study materials
  

The Implementation Journey: From Help Desk to Classroom AI

Westminster implemented LearnWise AI through three key pilots:

1. Help Desk Support: A general assistant embedded in the online learning blog—though initial traffic revealed students wanted course-specific answers, not just tech help.
   
2. Library Assistant “Liby”: Trained on hundreds of LibGuides to make student research easier through natural language queries.
   
3. Course Assistant “Maia”: Embedded in Blackboard, Maia could field questions about assessments, deadlines, and generate practice quizzes on demand.
   

Performance Snapshot

• Top Use Cases:
  • Course Q&A and quiz generation in Blackboard
  • Library guide navigation via Libby
  • Academic deadline clarification and module-specific queries
• Student Interaction Themes: Assessment criteria, revision prompts, and deadline clarification
• Faculty Insight: Academic staff gained visibility into student study behaviors and common misconceptions
• Platform Impact: Sparked broader conversations across leadership about scaling AI for student support, wellbeing, and internal training

Results & Impact

• Insight into student learning: Tutors could see recurring questions, helping them identify misconceptions
  
• Increased interest in AI from senior leadership: Maia sparked conversations about wider rollout
  
• Student feedback: Positive anecdotal feedback, especially on Maia's ability to simplify study prep
  
• Resource activation: Libby brought buried library resources into active use
  
  

Looking Ahead

Westminster is planning to scale Maia across more modules, integrate chatbots into student support and mental health services, and use LearnWise AI for internal staff development. The institution is also exploring broader knowledge management use cases—turning disconnected content into a unified student experience.

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This case study was adapted from insights shared during the Jisc x LearnWise AI webinar on transforming student support with AI.

You can watch the full replay here.

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