Conversational AI for Higher Education

Future-proof your university with Conversational AI that prioritises student trust, experience and operational excellence.

Work with our experts

We support institutions from audit and training to consulting and building student- and staff-facing conversational AI, ensuring education-first, 24/7 support for your entire campus.

Auditing

Auditing

Our technology-agnostic audits follow our industry-leading CDI Standards Framework and provide scoring across five levels of maturity.

Team training and certification

Team training and certification

Our programs teach your team the essentials in Conversation Design, AI Training, Prompt Design, and more, specifically tailored for higher education contexts.

Consulting

Consulting

Our education-specialised consultants work with your team to design, build, and deploy Conversational AI that transforms your university experience.

The challenge universities face today

Students expect immediate, seamless service across every part of their university experience. At the same time, many universities face:


  • Growing administrative burdens and resource constraints

  • Rising service expectations within tight budgets

  • Need for 24/7 support accessibility

  • Mental health and wellbeing support challenges

  • International student engagement barriers

  • Staff workload pressures affecting service quality

Peter Thomas
2:00 min

Student-facing applications

Admissions Support

Admissions Support

Instant, personalised responses to application and programme queries

24/7 Student Help

24/7 Student Help

Automated FAQs on registration, timetables, and campus life

Academic Success Support

Academic Success Support

Assignment deadlines, exam schedules, study resources

Career Services

Career Services

Career advice, CV tips, and internship support

Mental Health Support

Mental Health Support

Confidential access to wellbeing services and resources

Multilingual Engagement

Multilingual Engagement

Services in multiple languages for international students

Internal staff applications

HR Information Access

HR Information Access

Quick access to policies, benefits, and procedures

IT Support Automation

IT Support Automation

Common technical issues and system guidance

Faculty Resource Center

Faculty Resource Center

Research support, grant information, administrative help

Facilities Management

Facilities Management

Room booking, maintenance requests, campus services

Crisis Communications

Crisis Communications

Emergency notifications and safety protocols

Why universities choose CDI

Education-specific expertise

Deep experience in higher education through our global network of education specialists who understand institutional dynamics, student needs, and university values.

Trust-centered philosophy

Where others emphasise cost and control, we prioritize the quality of student experience and the trust it creates. Our expertise sits at the intersection of human-centered design, empathy, ethics, and communication.

Proven industry framework

Our CDI Standards Framework is validated across Fortune 500 companies and now tailored specifically for higher education contexts.

Capability building focus

We help institutions build sustainable Conversational AI strength, developing your Mindset, Skillset, Culture, and Systems for long-term success.

Global community

8,000+ certified professionals advancing the practice of student-centric Conversational AI.

Measurable impact

Proven standards grounded in empathy, trust, and inclusion, delivering improvements in both student relationships and operational excellence.

Technology independence

Our audits work with any platform or vendor, ensuring objective, student-first recommendations.

Innovation leadership

Always ahead of industry challenges with cutting-edge solutions that balance technological advancement with human values.

How we work with you

Assessment & Planning

Assessment & Planning

  • Free CAI Maturity Assessment

  • Stakeholder workshops

  • Technical architecture planning

  • Compliance & security framework building

Foundation Building

Foundation Building

  • Team training and certification

  • Pilot use case development

  • Initial AI assistant deployment

  • Integration with existing university systems

Scale & Optimize

Scale & Optimize

  • Full-scale deployment across your university

  • Continuous improvement

  • Advanced feature implementation

  • Course catalogue integration

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Trusted by global brands

“CDI is the leading expert in the conversational landscape and we’re really happy they shared their knowledge during the workshops with us. Moreover, we applaud them for making our students enthusiastic about this field of work!”

Rick Goossens

“The partnership with CDI confirms that we’re at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field. Over the past 5 years, they’ve grown into a respected global platform, and we’re proud to contribute to that journey. By joining forces, we’re creating new ways to share applied knowledge across borders. And truthfully, every step of the process has been a pleasure—collaborating with CDI is as enjoyable as it is impactful. ”

Marije Brom

Contact us

Our experts help universities design, build and maintain best-in-class Conversational AI. So if you want to hit the ground running or you need help scaling your team, get in touch.

FAQs

What training programs are available for university Conversational AI teams?

CDI offers certification programs and team training designed specifically for higher education staff. Our programs cover Conversation design, AI implementation, and quality assurance frameworks that help university teams build better student and staff support experiences.

What workshops does CDI offer for higher education institutions?

Our Conversational AI Readiness Workshop is a 1-day intensive for university teams building or managing AI assistants. We can also offer customized workshops on specific topics like wellbeing support, helpdesk optimization, and AI strategy alignment.

Do you offer conversational AI consulting for universities?

CDI provides consulting and hands-on implementation support for universities at every stage from planning your first AI assistant to scaling enterprise-wide deployments. We specialize in helping institutions fix underperforming systems and align AI with student and staff needs.

How can CDI help improve our university's AI assistant?

CDI can audit your current implementation, identify gaps in content, design, and integration, then provide actionable recommendations to improve performance. CDI works with your team to implement changes that increase student satisfaction, reduce support tickets, and demonstrate measurable ROI.

Can CDI help with our university's Conversational AI strategy?

We help universities develop comprehensive conversational AI strategies that align with institutional priorities, ensure responsible implementation, and build internal capability. Our approach focuses on sustainable adoption, not just technology deployment.

What is a Conversational AI maturity assessment for universities?

A maturity assessment evaluates your institution's readiness and capability across conversation design, content, technology, and governance. It identifies strengths, gaps, and priority areas for improvement, giving you a clear roadmap for what to do next.

What is Conversational AI in higher education?

Conversational AI in higher education refers to chatbots and voice assistants that help students and staff access information, complete tasks, and find support. When designed well, these tools reduce administrative burden, improve service accessibility, and strengthen trust between institutions and their communities.