<p>The Diakonia College of Finland (SDO) is a vocational secondary school that hosts nearly 4,000 students annually across its four campuses. SDO offers undergraduate vocational degrees in health, welfare, and service fields and provides preparatory training and services for immigrant integration. With a vision to be a pioneer in digitalization and a distinguished learning community through genuine and caring interactions with students, SDO prioritizes preventive support through digital tools.</p>
<h3>Objective</h3>
<p>Graduation, while being one of the most important phases in a student&#8217;s life, can also be quite challenging, as it involves finishing studies and deciding on further education or employment. It is crucial to support students in the final stages of their studies to ensure timely graduation and a smooth transition to the next phase of their lives.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>The bot lowers the threshold for responding truthfully.<br />
</em>Student, SDO</p></blockquote>
<h3>Implementation</h3>
<p>In collaboration with SDO, we designed a messaging and service path for the Annie support bot to assist students about to graduate. The support bot finds out whether the student is considering further studies, employment, or still focusing on completing their current studies. Based on the student&#8217;s situation, they are referred to a counselor, curator, teacher, or relevant guidance materials.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>Students are more likely to feel valued and cared for by the school and believe that they are being supported.</em><br />
Teacher, SDO</p></blockquote>
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>The support bot focused on graduation reached students effectively, and students found its messages meaningful. 74% of students responded to the messages, and on average, 14% needed assistance. The most common support needs were related to job searches (34%), finishing studies (31%), further education (19%), and personal life situations (7%).</p>
<blockquote><p><em>Even if one might think that a message from a robot means nothing, for me it brought a feeling of caring! The school and staff are genuinely interested in my well-being and want to support my studies in the best possible way.</em><br />
Student, SDO</p></blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Staff members also found the Annie support bot helpful, with 82% of respondents in staff feedback expressing a desire for the bot&#8217;s continued use at SDO.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>An opportunity for students to get help at a low threshold. Students feel that they are not alone.</em><br />
School Counselor, SDO</p></blockquote>


Ota yhteyttä

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vaasa-logo

Vantaa Vocational College Varia is a multi-disciplinary, practical vocational education and training institution located in Vantaa. With four campuses, Varia hosts more than 6,000 students pursuing around 160 degrees.
<h3>Objective</h3>
The City of Vantaa's strategic goal is to reduce early school leaving in vocational education and training. Despite the support from student welfare services and teaching staff at Varia, 15-17% of students drop out without completing their studies. While general statistics on youth issues are available, early identification of students at risk of dropping out and the provision of adequate, tailored support have been challenging. The goal is to make learning more meaningful, identify dropout risks, and help students stay on track.
<h3>Implementation</h3>
In late 2020, Annie Advisor and Varia initiated an extensive collaboration to develop a support bot that addresses Varia's objectives. Initially targeting new students at one of Varia's campuses, a diverse professional group worked together to design a messaging and service flow for the support bot to direct students to different professionals depending on their various support needs. For instance, students facing challenges with coping are referred to a psychologist, while those struggling with distance learning are directed to their responsible teacher.

After a successful pilot in spring 2021, the support bot was expanded to all new students in autumn 2021 and to continuing students in spring 2022. To manage the load on support services, students' support needs are identified in a staggered manner throughout the academic year, starting from the beginning of their studies.

Customized versions of the support bot's communication and service pathway were also developed for apprenticeship students and non-Finnish-speaking students.
<blockquote><em>Annie provides students with a low-threshold opportunity to express support needs that might have otherwise gone unmentioned.</em>
Psychiatric nurse, Varia</blockquote>
<h3>Results</h3>
Varia found that text messaging lowers barriers to seeking and receiving support. On average, 71% of students respond to messages, and among those, 9% require support. Support needs peak at the beginning of the academic year, with up to 21% of students requesting assistance. The most common support needs include teaching and study planning (18%), general subjects (14%), other academic matters (12%), and well-being and health (5%).
<blockquote><em>The Annie-bot helped me progress in my studies. The threshold for asking for help disappeared with this Annie-bot. I wouldn't be graduating as a community nurse now without having had the opportunity to ask for help through this.
</em>Student, Varia</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.vantaa.fi/fi/ajankohtaista/artikkeli/annie-advisor-sovellus-auttaa-loytamaan-tukea-tarvitsevat-opiskelijat"><strong>Read more in Varia's blog (in Finnish)</strong></a>

Supporting New Students at Varia

The University of Vaasa is a responsible, business-oriented institution with a strong foundation in business administration, engineering, management, and communication sciences. With over 5,000 students and approximately 500 staff members, the university fosters a close-knit community, ensuring that no one is left behind.

&nbsp;
<h3>Goal</h3>
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Vaasa has been focused on addressing students' concerns regarding peer relationships, well-being, and academic progress. Students who began their studies during this time face a higher risk of social isolation and decreased engagement. The university sought to find ways to improve student well-being while considering the available resources for support and guidance services.
<blockquote><em>"Annie encourages students to reflect on their own thoughts and, in particular, to consider issues that are difficult to identify independently."
</em> Student, University of Vaasa</blockquote>
<h3>Implementation</h3>
The University of Vaasa employs the Annie support bot to assist students in improving their learning capacity, well-being, and overall health. Depending on individual needs, students can be directed to suitable materials, personal tutors, educational psychologists, or student health services.
<blockquote><em>"I conveyed my message quickly and received a prompt response. It was easy to connect with just a couple of button clicks, without any logins or other complications."</em>
Student, University of Vaasa</blockquote>
<h3>Results</h3>
Annie proved to be a convenient method for effectively reaching a large number of students. 85% of students responded to the support bot's messages, and 22% indicated they needed assistance. Among those who required support, 26% preferred contact from staff members, while 74% wanted to initiate contact themselves.
<blockquote><em>"The information provided by Annie assists us in developing our services to better address students' needs."</em>
Amanuensis, University of Vaasa</blockquote>

Improving Well-being at the University of Vaasa

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Helping Students Graduate at the Diakonia College of Finland

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Improving Well-being at the University of Vaasa