Start with alignment, not experiments
Most universities aren’t short of AI pilots. What they’re missing is a joined-up roadmap.
When we talk to digital transformation leads and CIOs, we often hear the same thing: every team wants AI, but no one owns the rollout. Tools are bought, adopted, and abandoned without a shared framework for risk, scalability, or integration.
Before jumping into the next chatbot or content generator, it’s worth asking:
- Who approves AI use across departments?
- Where is student data going, and is it secure?
- Do our platforms support scalable, compliant integrations?
- What problems are we solving - and who benefits from them?
This isn't about slowing things down. It’s about building the clarity and confidence to move fast without breaking everything else.
Build guardrails, not just gateways
AI systems are only as secure as the platforms they plug into.
We help universities audit their digital architecture to ensure any new tooling - AI or otherwise - sits on solid ground. That includes:
- Clear policies for acceptable AI use, storage, and data handling
- Permissions and access control that prevent accidental exposure
- Documentation and governance to support funding, compliance, and long-term planning
Without these foundations, even the most promising AI tools become temporary fixes that fall apart at scale.
Map AI use to real goals
AI isn’t the goal. Student success, operational efficiency, and faculty support are.
We work with institutions to define AI use cases that actually stick—tools and workflows that align with institutional goals, reduce manual burden, and support real outcomes.
That might include:
- Smarter onboarding tools that adapt based on student needs
- AI-assisted marking workflows that save hours without replacing academic rigour
- Support chatbots that reduce pressure on stretched student services teams
- Predictive analytics that help prioritise interventions and improve retention
Each of these only works when built into a connected platform—one that respects data privacy, works across departments, and actually gets used.
It’s time for a more joined-up approach
If your team is patching systems, navigating legacy tech, or watching shadow tools pop up faster than you can review them, you’re not alone.
We help higher education teams align digital tools, embrace secure AI adoption, and build platforms that support long-term strategy - not short-term firefighting.
Explore our higher education work.
Let’s talk about your AI roadmap.