University of Sussex: Exploring Academic Support Using Generative AI with Plato
University of Sussex: Exploring Academic Support Using Generative AI with Plato
Find out how the University of Sussex used Plato to provide its students with access to trustworhy, scalable academic support using AI.
Find out how University of Sussex has done X.
Location
East Sussex, England
Institution type
Higher Education
Background
Background
The University of Sussex, founded in 1961, is a leading research-intensive institution located near Brighton, UK. With over 19,000 students and a global reputation for outstanding education, Sussex offers more than 500 undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across a wide range of disciplines and subjects.
The University of Sussex, founded in 1961, is a leading research-intensive institution located near Brighton, UK. With over 19,000 students and a global reputation for outstanding education, Sussex offers more than 500 undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across a wide range of disciplines and subjects.
“Plato has shown how AI can be implemented in a way that’s student-centred, values-led, and academically rigorous. It’s exciting to see a tool that supports both learners and staff in meaningful, scalable ways.”
“Plato has shown how AI can be implemented in a way that’s student-centred, values-led, and academically rigorous. It’s exciting to see a tool that supports both learners and staff in meaningful, scalable ways.”
Katie Piatt
Head of Educational Enhancement
The Challenge
The Challenge
As generative AI tools became increasingly prominent in higher education, the University of Sussex faced the challenge of establishing a clear, forward-thinking institutional response. The university initiated the development of a comprehensive AI principles aimed at equipping both students and staff with the skills to use AI effectively, ethically, and critically.
As generative AI tools became increasingly prominent in higher education, the University of Sussex faced the challenge of establishing a clear, forward-thinking institutional response. The university initiated the development of a comprehensive AI principles aimed at equipping both students and staff with the skills to use AI effectively, ethically, and critically.
Within this broader initiative, the University of Sussex Business School identified key areas where innovation was needed to align academic practice with evolving digital capabilities:
Within this broader initiative, the University of Sussex Business School identified key areas where innovation was needed to align academic practice with evolving digital capabilities:
Improving Teaching Practices
Improving Teaching Practices
Academic staff sought new ways to integrate AI into their pedagogical approach, but lacked proven, scalable examples of how such tools could be implemented to genuinely improve student engagement and learning outcomes.
Academic staff sought new ways to integrate AI into their pedagogical approach, but lacked proven, scalable examples of how such tools could be implemented to genuinely improve student engagement and learning outcomes.
Exploring Student-Centered AI Solutions
Exploring Student-Centered AI Solutions
There was a growing demand for AI-powered tools that could enhance independent study and support diverse learning needs – but these solutions needed to demonstrate educational value, not just novelty.
There was a growing demand for AI-powered tools that could enhance independent study and support diverse learning needs – but these solutions needed to demonstrate educational value, not just novelty.
The Business School was therefore motivated to explore Plato as a potential partner in piloting a purposeful, student-centric AI solution that could support its wider institutional goals around AI readiness and pedagogical innovation.
The Business School was therefore motivated to explore Plato as a potential partner in piloting a purposeful, student-centric AI solution that could support its wider institutional goals around AI readiness and pedagogical innovation.
“Plato is an innovative and interactive AI tool that plugs seamlessly into academic virtual learning environments. Its ability to provide on-demand, tailored learning support has the potential to greatly enhance the suite of learning resources available to students.”
“Plato is an innovative and interactive AI tool that plugs seamlessly into academic virtual learning environments. Its ability to provide on-demand, tailored learning support has the potential to greatly enhance the suite of learning resources available to students.”
Rashaad Shabab
Associate Dean for Education and Students, ex-Director of Student Experience
The Solution
The Solution
The University of Sussex Business School’s decision to trial Plato was guided by the platform’s ability to directly address the institution’s evolving priorities around AI integration, academic integrity, and student support.
The University of Sussex Business School’s decision to trial Plato was guided by the platform’s ability to directly address the institution’s evolving priorities around AI integration, academic integrity, and student support.
Plato offered students access to a chatbot designed to provide personalised answers to course-specific questions by integrating with existing materials available on the institution’s Canvas VLE. It allowed administrators, course leaders, to restrict outputs to approved academic content, promoting critical thinking and ethical use – key components of Sussex’s AI principles.
Plato offered students access to a chatbot designed to provide personalised answers to course-specific questions by integrating with existing materials available on the institution’s Canvas VLE. It allowed administrators, course leaders, to restrict outputs to approved academic content, promoting critical thinking and ethical use – key components of Sussex’s AI principles.
Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Plato is purpose-built for education. It enhances independent study through course-specific Q&A, flashcards, and practice questions – helping students access timely support while relieving pressure on academic staff.
Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Plato is purpose-built for education. It enhances independent study through course-specific Q&A, flashcards, and practice questions – helping students access timely support while relieving pressure on academic staff.
Plato provided the University of Sussex a unique way to trial, explore, and understand how generative AI can be used to enhance teaching and learning while addressing one of the most pressing issues the Business School was facing.
Plato provided the University of Sussex a unique way to trial, explore, and understand how generative AI can be used to enhance teaching and learning while addressing one of the most pressing issues the Business School was facing.
"Plato offered an interesting and unique way for our faculty to provide scalable, personalised support, in an ethical way to our students and provided students with a safe environment in which they could actively engage with the module content."
"Plato offered an interesting and unique way for our faculty to provide scalable, personalised support, in an ethical way to our students and provided students with a safe environment in which they could actively engage with the module content."
Kitty Horne
Academic Developer
Integration
Integration
Plato was integrated and embedded into Sussex’s Canvas Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) via LTI 1.3 and the Canvas REST API, requiring no new logins and minimal setup. The integration prioritised student and institutional data security and privacy, with no user data or module content used to train generative AI models.
Plato was integrated and embedded into Sussex’s Canvas Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) via LTI 1.3 and the Canvas REST API, requiring no new logins and minimal setup. The integration prioritised student and institutional data security and privacy, with no user data or module content used to train generative AI models.
All processing is secure, GDPR-compliant, and aligned with the university’s digital learning principles.
All processing is secure, GDPR-compliant, and aligned with the university’s digital learning principles.
“Working with Plato has been a pleasure from the start with the easy integration right up to launch. Dragos and the team have been really responsive to any queries we’ve had and the ongoing maintenance. They have also committed to being part of the conversation about AI in education at the university.”
“Working with Plato has been a pleasure from the start with the easy integration right up to launch. Dragos and the team have been really responsive to any queries we’ve had and the ongoing maintenance. They have also committed to being part of the conversation about AI in education at the university.”
Mark Thomas
Learning Techologist
Insights
Insights
Plato saw significant engagement during key assessment periods, with students actively seeking personalised academic support during moments of peak pressure when traditional support was often unavailable. Over the semester:
Plato saw significant engagement during key assessment periods, with students actively seeking personalised academic support during moments of peak pressure when traditional support was often unavailable. Over the semester:
51%
cohort signed up
73%
becoming returning users
1,750+
messages sent
550+
learning materials
Students used Plato to clarify complex topics in international finance, understand economic concepts, and review lecture material - demonstrating real demand for AI-powered, course-aligned academic support.
Students used Plato to clarify complex topics in international finance, understand economic concepts, and review lecture material - demonstrating real demand for AI-powered, course-aligned academic support.
The pilot also highlighted how AI can be effectively used to extend staff capacity, provide scalable 1:1-style assistance, and increase accessibility of learning resources.
The pilot also highlighted how AI can be effectively used to extend staff capacity, provide scalable 1:1-style assistance, and increase accessibility of learning resources.
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Join world-leading institutions in providing instant, scalable support
Book a demonstration call to find out more about Plato.
Get started
Contact us
Join world-leading institutions in providing instant, scalable support
Book a demonstration call to find out more about Plato.
Get started
Contact us