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Universities and other academic institutions are increasingly looking to Generative AI (GenAI) to solve operational challenges, improve learning outcomes, and support research excellence. In 2025, 92% of undergraduate students now use AI tools, with 88% relying on GenAI in assessments — up from just over half in 2024. Platforms like Kalisa, designed specifically for sectors where security and reliability matter, enable universities to apply AI practically, without risking data privacy or quality.
Below, we explore powerful GenAI use cases for students, staff, and academics — focusing on how these tools create real value.
1. Real-Time Academic Support and Tutoring
Students often struggle to access immediate help outside of scheduled class times. GenAI tutoring agents can offer real-time academic support, answering questions, providing explanations, and guiding learners through difficult topics when they need it most.
Instead of relying solely on office hours, or spending time searching for information in virtual learning systems, students can interact with GenAI tutors that deliver tailored, subject-specific support, helping bridge learning gaps promptly and improving academic performance. Importantly, these Generative AI agents can track students' progress, identify recurring issues, and escalate more complex questions to human instructors when necessary.
According to the HEPI 2025 report, 58% of students now use GenAI to explain complex concepts, and many cite its role in improving work quality and providing support outside normal study hours.
Why it matters:
Immediate feedback fosters better learning habits, prevents small misunderstandings from growing into larger gaps, and supports greater student independence. For institutions, this means improved student outcomes and retention, protecting tuition revenues while reducing the demand on limited academic staff time.
2. Language Translation for Students in Their Native Language
International students often face challenges understanding course content not just because of technical complexity but also language barriers. GenAI agents can provide real-time translation of study material, lecture notes, administrative emails, and even live support, while preserving cultural nuances and subject-specific terminology.
For instance, a student from Japan studying engineering in the UK could receive detailed feedback, documentation, or help desk responses in Japanese, enhancing comprehension and academic success.
Why it matters:
Improving accessibility and inclusion creates a more supportive environment for international students, boosting enrolment, reputation, and global competitiveness without needing to hire extensive multilingual support teams.
Book a demo with Kalisa to see how real-time, secure GenAI agents and multilingual support can be seamlessly integrated into your institution.
3. Administrative Self-Service for Students
Navigating university administration — from course enrolmentto requesting transcripts and policies — can be confusing and time-consuming. Proving a GenAI self-service portal can simplify these processes by offering instant answers, guiding students step-by-step, and providing support 24/7.
These GenAI assistants help students resolve common queries such as "How do I change my module?" or "When is the next tuition fee payment due?" without waiting in long queues or on hold.
Why it matters:
Streamlining administrative tasks reduces operational costs, frees up staff for higher-value activities, and significantly improves the student experience — strengthening the university’s reputation for efficiency and innovation.
4. AI-Powered Internal Support and Knowledge Management for Staff and Academics
University staff and academics juggle complex policies, systems, and knowledge repositories. GenAI agents can search across internal databases, policies, past communications, and research papers to deliver precise, contextual answers.
Imagine an academic asking, "What is the procedure for research ethics approval?" or a staff member querying, "Where can I find the guidelines for visa compliance?" — and receiving instant, reliable information drawn from official institutional sources.
Why it matters:
Speed and accuracy in finding information boost productivity, enhance decision-making, and reduce duplication of effort — enabling institutions to operate more effectively without needing to increase headcount.
Learn how Kalisa's AI workspaces and agents can empower your staff and academics to find what they need in seconds — book a demo today.
5. Compliance and Policy Monitoring for Staff
Universities must comply with complex frameworks covering data privacy, research integrity, safeguarding, and equality policies. GenAI monitoring tools can automatically scan operations, flag risks, track updates to regulations, and suggest policy adjustments.
For example, if GDPR rules change, the AI system can alert compliance officers, summarise the implications, and suggest actions — reducing reliance on manual monitoring and improving response times.
Why it matters:
By automating compliance checks, institutions minimise legal and reputational risks while reducing compliance costs. Staying ahead of regulatory changes also demonstrates leadership and accountability to regulators and prospective students.
6. Streamlined Research and Knowledge Discovery for Academics
Finding relevant literature, datasets, or collaborators often consumes precious research time. GenAI can act as a research assistant: scanning global databases and the institutional knowledge, identifying patterns, recommending relevant sources, and even suggesting grant opportunities based on research focus.
Rather than trawling through endless papers, a researcher could request, "Find recent studies on AI ethics published after 2023," and receive an expertly curated, structured list in seconds.
Why it matters:
Faster knowledge discovery accelerates research output, drives higher citation rates, and boosts institutional research rankings — making the university more attractive for funding and collaboration opportunities.
7. AI Support for Content, Presentation, and Learning Material Creation
Lecturers spend countless hours preparing course materials. GenAI can assist by:
- Drafting lecture summaries based on notes
- Creating the copy for presentation slides
- Developing quizzes, case studies, or exercises aligned with learning outcomes
Of course, all outputs can be edited and refined by academics to ensure quality, but the heavy lifting is significantly reduced.
These tools are increasingly accepted: 25% of students now say it’s acceptable to use AI-generated content in assessments after editing, up from 17% last year.
Why it matters:
Reducing preparation time allows academics to focus on teaching innovation and student engagement, strengthening course quality while saving resource costs across departments.
Why Institutions Should Act Now
Adopting GenAI is no longer a future ambition — it’s a present necessity to enhance efficiency, improve student outcomes, and maintain a competitive edge. Universities implementing these use cases are not replacing people; they are augmenting capabilities, freeing up time for high-value, human-centred work.
Kalisa offers a secure, sector-ready platform to bring these ideas to life. Whether it’s multilingual student support, automated compliance monitoring, or knowledge-powered research assistants, Kalisa ensures that your data remains secure and that your institution maintains full control and intellectual property ownership.
Powering the next generation of professional services
Kalisa offers everything you need to deliver valuable GenAI experiences to your clients and team.
- Chat agents with subject-matter expertise
- AI Workflows to automate business processes
- AI workspaces for your team
- Self-serve client portals and dashboards
- Subscriptions and monetisation
- Securely combine public and private data
- API for systems integration
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