Case study: University of Canberra

'Levelling the playing field' for students at UC

Over the course of a long partnership beginning in 2016, the University of Canberra has seen robust outcomes with Studiosity's writing feedback and live, after-hours study support. In 2024 they decided to pilot the AI-powered 'Plus' writing feedback service with a select number of target cohorts.

Studiosity and University of Canberra partnership at a glance 

WATCH: See what leaders and staff at the University of Canberra think about scalable, defensible student success with Studiosity. 

The results of the pilot showed that Studiosity+, the AI-powered writing feedback service, was a scalable, effective way to increase students' confidence and academic performance. Looking at grades, students' perceptions, and course completion, the University assessed the outcomes for students who had used Studiosity+ against those who hadn't.

Pilot results: better academic performance, completion, and preference for AI support

One of the key indicators that the University of Canberra could see right away was the average grade difference between users and non-users, and the unit successful completion rate difference as well. These were measured across six target units in the initial pilot period. Four of those units had a large enough sample size to examine the differences:

• Average grades increase of up to 9.9 for one unit, with an overall average increase of 6.95
• The unit successful completion rate was an average of 15.63% higher for Studiosity users compared to those who did not use Studiosity. 
• 80% of students said that the AI feedback was 'very similar' (47%) or 'clearer and more efficient' (33%) than human feedback.

Noting the potential to drive these similar outcomes for every student, Professor Michelle Lincoln, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, made the decision to move their program over to the Plus model and make Studiosity available for all 18,000 students enrolled at UC. 

"We could immediately see the ways that that was going to benefit our students, not the least of which was the ability to uncap students' access so that it became a much more equitable approach to supporting our students' learning."
- Prof Michelle Lincoln, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic 

Scaled outcomes across the whole institution

• 5.7x ↑ increase in interactions compared to the classic Studiosity service for same period 2024, and  3.5x ↑ increase in unique students. 
• 25.8% increase in interactions via the Study Help Canvas (LMS) community site
• 84% were satisfied with their feedback, 54% extremely satisfied

"We have found it so helpful to our students and have had such positive feedback both from them and in their results. We have now created links to Studiosity GenAI in all Assessment Briefs to make it even easier for students to access."
Sarah Marshall
Unit Convener, Discipline of Counselling

With concrete evidence to prove not only student satisfaction but also student learning with AI, there is undoubtedly a bright future ahead for Studiosity's ongoing partnership with the University of Canberra. 

"Our academics have embraced Studiosity because at last we have an ethical AI tool."
- Bill Shorten, Vice Chancellor