How does conversational AI Chatbots accelerate the future of Higher education?
The advancements in technology have given birth to the adoption of Artificial Intelligence-led learning and communication tools in our daily lives. They have revolutionized various industries. And the education sector is not untouched by the adoption.
With students’ changing expectations that revolve around instant gratification, quick and seamless access to all types of information, and the choice to have answers at any point in time; it puts a lot of pressure on institutions. The modern student does not like to wait and wants immediate responses 24X7.
When new students arrive on campus, many ask the same questions. “Which courses are available this semester?” “How do I register?” “Who is my advisor?” These questions extend to financial aid as well. “Am I eligible?” “How do I apply?” “Why haven’t I received my financial aid?”
Enter AI Chatbots for Higher education.
Student Chatbots help in catering to the needs and expectations of students. Chatbots are available 24/7/365 and can provide information quickly and in many languages, making them useful at institutions. They help improve the efficiency of every department by answering student queries easily. Let’s have a look at the benefits of leveraging Chatbots for student support:
- Provide a faster response time: Millennials want quick answers and deploying a chatbot can help you ensure that their simple questions get answered within minutes.
- Provide 24/7 support: With a chatbot, you can address the questions and problems of your applicants and students anytime, around the clock. This can help you improve their experiences and keep them engaged.
- Reduce costs: A chatbot can handle multiple requests without compromising the quality of interactions. Having a bot interact with your applicants and students 24/7 can help you reduce the cost of hiring a number of help desk professionals.
In the end, chatbots save time. They can respond to thousands of inquiries, all at once. Students can chat with them any time of day, which is especially helpful for international students. And this type of instant response system also improves customer satisfaction which may result in better enrollment rates.
Anthony Banford is an esteemed executive with 19 years of experience in technology, consulting, and education. He begins his latest chapter as Chief Revenue Officer at BlackBeltHelp, aiming to innovate in the higher education support industry. His move follows a successful stint as Head of Revenue at StudentBridge since March 2023, where he significantly contributed to the company’s merger with Full Measure Education, enhancing its service offerings.
Todd Hollrah joins BlackBeltHelp bringing 25+ years of experience managing service delivery operations for several Fortune 500 clients around the globe. After a distinguished career as an executive in the BPO industry, Todd will provide critical insight into building an exceptional customer experience combining both live voice and automated solutions.
Inspired by a family computer that always needed fixing, Chris Uthe has submerged himself in business and technology for the last 20 years. His first company, a PC repair and networking business, was started at just 16 and successfully fueled a deep interest in solving problems as he helped business customers throughout his hometown adopt technology into their business. He would go on to successfully run a media & managed IT company before joining the Ed Tech industry with a successful 13-year tenure within an ERP/SIS company leading the Student Portal & Learning Management division. His last startup, EdSolio, helped to fuel the winds of competency-based education by providing a comprehensive view of a student’s work and achievements. Chris is now focused on creating successful learners by ensuring the highest quality help and support through the use of AI backed toolsets spending the last 3 years in the student engagement and support markets.
Quaiser Absar is the Chief Technology Officer and Director of Institutional Computing at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.
Bringing in over 2 decades of experience with him, Manish has ensured seamless operations in terms of client delivery, reporting & analytics, quality, training, and transitions with a special focus on technical integrations to help reduce costs and improve the bottom-line.
Anthony has served higher education in diverse, leadership roles for over 30 years and has helped organizations thrive through his expertise in developing, analyzing, and executing growth strategies. Prior to joining BlackBeltHelp, he served in College Administration as well as in leadership roles within Blackboard Student Services and Ellucian, Inc.
Accomplished IT Specialist and Manager with extensive experience in a higher education setting and demonstrated abilities to effectively manage both student and professional staff. Self-motivated problem solver, who is skilled in managing many issues and prioritizing their importance to find resolutions in a timely and effective manner. Possesses strong abilities to adapt to new technologies by extrapolating from existing experience. Possess first-rate communication and collaboration skills to work with diverse groups effectively.
Lila Buytendorp has been serving as the Director of User Services at Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) since 2000. In this role she is responsible for staff & lab desktop computing and end user support. She guides and supports technology based on the curriculum needs and ensures technology is implemented to support the emerging needs of the college. She builds and supports integrated systems to improve efficiencies and uses technologies to support data-driven decision making. Lila is a member of the Capital Projects Planning and Design Committee to ensure new or remodeled facilities have appropriate technology.