Recently in Kuala Lumpur, university leaders from around Malaysia gathered to attend an invigorating AI for Learning Forum hosted by Open University Malaysia (OUM). The energy from the attendees in the room was collaborative and forward-thinking, and the event was also streamed live to all OUM staff. Studiosity's General Manager, Chris Fitzpatrick and Partnerships Manager Vanesa Duran Racero had the pleasure of meeting Professor Datin Dr. Santhi Raghavan, Vice President/DVC Learner Experience & Technology, Dr Nantha Subramaniam, who has been overseeing the pilot of Studiosity at OUM for the last 6 months, and Assoc Prof Tridib Saha, Director of Education and Training Academy at our longstanding partner Monash University Malaysia.
The forum started with a dynamic session from Chris on maximising the opportunities for harnessing generative AI for Learning, while avoiding the risks. He outlined the differences between AI for Learning and AI for productivity, and shared some of the YouGov research undertaken recently around students' use of AI, expectation of AI support, and confidence in their learning when using AI.
- There is a strong correlation between Studiosity usage and student outcomes.
- Users of Studiosity services had significantly higher Weighted Average Marks (WAM) and unit marks
- The difference was more pronounced in case of domestic students, compared to that of international students
- In writing-heavy units, Studiosity usage yields greater benefits.
After that, Dr Nantha from OUM presented on the promising early results they are seeing from their Studiosity partnership.
So far, their experience has been a great success. Student engagement has been high, and they have observed ‘consistently favorable’ results across their research metrics, which will undoubtedly lead to a compelling case study for scaled, cost-effective AI for Learning in a Malaysian university setting.
Rather than replacing teachers, AI tools serve as an extension of human teaching, amplifying the effectiveness of instruction and support.
To conclude the Forum, there was a lively panel discussion with Chris Fitzpatrick and a representative from AWS, exploring future possibilities in education with AI. Many audience members asked thoughtful questions and the discussion branched out across a range of themes.
Overall, the AI for Learning Forum at Open University Malaysia was a resounding success. For participants, it highlighted the significant benefits of integrating built-for-purpose AI into learning environments while emphasising the importance of human guidance and support. The positive outcomes of Studiosity partnerships shared by Monash University Malaysia and OUM demonstrate the potential of AI tools to enhance student outcomes and engagement, paving the way for future advancements in higher education.
