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Use Case

Conversational AI for Higher Education

Conversational AI University Program

We offer a full-service journey from auditing, training, consulting to helping build student-facing and internal-facing conversational AI.


Our education-first approach, combined with industry-grade best practices, helps higher education institutions future-proof operations, enhance student experience, and improve operational efficiency.

Conversational AI for Higher Education

Today, students expect immediate, seamless service across every part of their university experience. At the same time, many universities face growing administrative burdens, resource constraints, and rising service expectations. Conversational AI offers a powerful way to meet these challenges.

The business case for Conversational AI

Higher education is under increasing pressure to do more with less: streamlining operations, improving student engagement, and delivering round-the-clock services, all within tight budgets. Conversational AI helps you meet these demands by automating routine interactions, reducing administrative load, and improving access to critical information. It enables you to operate more efficiently while delivering the responsive, personalized support today’s students expect.

24/7 Student Support

AI assistants provide continuous support for common student inquiries — from admissions questions and course registration to tuition payment assistance and campus services.

Accessible Information Sharing

Conversational AI simplifies access to critical information, such as application deadlines, financial aid options, academic policies, and campus event schedules — all delivered in an intuitive, student-friendly format.

Automate Student Services

Automate processes like admissions document submissions, accommodation requests, course change applications, and internship registrations. Reduce bottlenecks, lower staff workload, and improve overall service speed.

Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings

By automating routine student and staff interactions, universities can reallocate resources to higher-priority academic and strategic initiatives — while improving service delivery across departments.

Internal Staff Support

Conversational AI can assist university staff in finding HR, finance, IT, and facilities information quickly, supporting smoother internal operations and reducing reliance on manual processes.

Crisis and Emergency Communications

During emergencies — such as health outbreaks, weather events, or campus security incidents — AI assistants can deliver immediate, accurate information to students and staff, improving response times and safety outcomes.

Supporting Student Wellbeing

Make it easier for students to access counseling services, mental health resources, and wellbeing support through confidential, AI-driven interfaces — expanding reach without overwhelming human support teams.

Multilingual Student Engagement

Conversational AI can deliver services in multiple languages, helping universities serve their increasingly diverse and international student populations with inclusive, equitable access to information and support.

Academic Success and Retention Support

Conversational AI can guide students through academic milestones including assignment deadlines, exam schedules and study support resources. By surfacing timely, personalized assistance, AI assistants help students stay on track, reduce dropout risk, and boost overall academic success.

Leverage Conversational AI, at scale

Understand how your university can leverage Conversational AI technology with the help of CDI. Work with our experts or give your team the tools and training to build successful AI assistants.

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

“Higher education today faces unprecedented pressure to modernize services, deliver better student experiences, and operate more efficiently — all while navigating tight budgets and complex governance. CDI understands the unique challenges of higher education and brings deep expertise in Conversational AI to support real, sustainable transformation. Our approach isn’t about pushing technology — it’s about empowering institutions to build the capabilities they need to thrive.”

Dr. Peter Thomas

About the CDI Standards Framework

When organizations want to have more interactions on their conversational channels than their contact centers have the capacity for, they reach for conversational AI solutions to automate a large part of the interactions.

But this is not easy to do. People and machines have different ways of interacting so building a good AI Assistant requires a unique understanding of technology, linguistics, and psychology. 

CDI has worked with leading organizations around the world and has systemized the proven ways of creating successful AI Assistants and the enterprise capabilities that develop, manage, and grow these assistants: the CDI Standards Framework.

CDI Standards Framework

Unlocking value in Conversational AI

The CDI Standards Framework is a collection of proven strategies helping organizations deploy AI assistants at scale. Our knowledge is grounded in years of experience training successful conversational AI teams.

CDI certificates give you the skill set for each level so you make sure you are on track

CDI Standards Framework CDI Standards Framework CDI Standards Framework

CDI Standards Framework is a systematic approach to developing a conversational AI capability by ensuring Mindset, Skillset, Culture, and Systems are all developed in the right pace.

CDI Workflow

CDI Workflow is a systemized approach to creating human centered and goal oriented AI Assistants at scale.

The workflow works for all conversational channels, is technology agnostic, and works for both declarative and generative AI approaches.

Discover our case studies

Vandebron’s Chatbot, Mick

Vandebron’s Chatbot, Mick

Conversation Design Institute worked with Dutch energy company Vandebron to build and launch their c...

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HP’s Virtual Assistant

HP’s Virtual Assistant

HP Inc. is a technology company that believes one thoughtful idea has the power to change the world....

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Migrating Trulet’s Chatbot, Trudi

Migrating Trulet’s Chatbot, Trudi

Trulet, an Australia-based company, created Trudi—an innovative AI chatbot for real estate that enha...

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Migrating Hansgrohe's Chatbot, Hans

Migrating Hansgrohe's Chatbot, Hans

The Hansgrohe Group, a leading German sanitation company, is known for its premium brands Hansgrohe...

Utilities
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Global Sports Retail Chatbot

Global Sports Retail Chatbot

A Forbes 500 sports retail brand launched their customer service chatbot in the US market in 2020. I...

Retail
Customer support
Healthcare HR Chatbot

Healthcare HR Chatbot

Over the course of two years, CDI worked with one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies to...

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Expanding multilingual IVR support

Expanding multilingual IVR support

A leading global provider of cutting-edge software and services, embarked on a transformative journe...

Technology
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Goodcall’s AI Phone Assistants

Goodcall’s AI Phone Assistants

Goodcall is a California-based startup that specializes in delivering AI-powered phone assistants th...

Telecommunications
Customer support
Vodafone’s Virtual Assistant, TOBi

Vodafone’s Virtual Assistant, TOBi

Vodafone Group Plc, Europe’s largest Mobile and Fixed Network Operator, serves over 300 million mobi...

Telecommunications
Customer support

Chatbot excellence package

Get smarter, faster. See tangible results in less than 60 days. Work with our experts.

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Expert review

Our experts perform a detailed evaluation of your chatbot or voice assistant. We identify areas of improvement and provide actionable recommendations on how to improve.

Course Access

Gain access to our world-class learning material covering everything from conversation design to AI training to AI ethics.

Bespoke Workshops

Put theory into practice. Level up your team’s knowledge through a series of interactive workshops on AI training and/or conversation design.

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