Design of an AI-Powered Chatbot for Student Academic Guidance at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
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- NGN 5000
Background of the Study
Academic guidance is essential for student success in higher education, as it helps students navigate their academic journey, select courses, manage workloads, and make informed career decisions. Traditionally, academic guidance at universities is provided through advisors, faculty members, and administrative staff. However, with the increasing student population, universities face challenges such as inadequate academic advisors, long response times, and inefficient support systems (Adeyemi & Musa, 2023). At Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, these challenges often result in students receiving delayed responses to their inquiries, leading to poor course selection, academic struggles, and increased dropout rates.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots have emerged as a promising solution to improve academic support services. These intelligent systems use natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to interact with students, answer academic queries, provide course recommendations, and offer real-time assistance (Okonkwo & Ibrahim, 2024). AI chatbots can function as virtual academic advisors, helping students access information on course registration, academic policies, deadlines, and study resources without the need for human intervention.
Several universities worldwide have integrated AI chatbots into their academic support systems, leading to improved student engagement and satisfaction. For instance, AI-powered chatbots at institutions such as Georgia State University and Stanford University have assisted students in academic planning, reduced administrative workload, and provided personalized learning recommendations (Olawale & Yusuf, 2023). In Nigeria, however, most universities, including ABU Zaria, still rely on conventional academic advisory systems, which are often inefficient and inaccessible to students outside working hours (Ahmed & Hassan, 2024).
A major challenge at ABU Zaria is that students often struggle to obtain timely academic advice due to the overwhelming number of inquiries that advisors must handle. Many students miss critical deadlines, make poor course choices, or fail to access necessary academic resources because of limited guidance. Moreover, the absence of a digitalized, AI-driven advisory system means that students must rely on administrative offices, which may not always be available to provide instant support (Ogunleye & Salisu, 2024).
Given these challenges, an AI-powered chatbot could bridge the gap between students and academic advisory services by providing automated, instant, and personalized academic guidance. This study, therefore, seeks to design an AI-powered chatbot tailored to the needs of students at ABU Zaria, enabling them to receive real-time responses to academic inquiries, improve course selection processes, and enhance overall academic performance.
Statement of the Problem
The current academic advisory system at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, faces significant challenges in meeting students’ needs due to inefficiencies in communication, delays in response times, and a lack of personalized guidance. Students often experience difficulties in obtaining timely academic advice, resulting in poor course registration decisions, low academic performance, and increased dropout rates (Adebayo & Musa, 2023). These challenges are exacerbated by the growing student population, which puts pressure on academic advisors and administrative staff.
Furthermore, many students at ABU Zaria are unaware of available academic support resources due to a lack of structured advisory mechanisms. The absence of an efficient, digitalized academic advisory system means that students rely on word-of-mouth information or outdated university websites, which may not always provide accurate or timely guidance (Okonkwo & Salisu, 2024). Without an AI-powered chatbot, students face difficulties in accessing crucial academic information, leading to avoidable academic challenges.
Additionally, students who need urgent academic advice outside office hours have no alternative support system. Human advisors are limited by working hours and administrative constraints, making it difficult for students to seek guidance during weekends or late hours (Olawale & Ibrahim, 2023). This study, therefore, proposes the design of an AI-powered chatbot that will provide real-time, automated academic support to students at ABU Zaria, helping them navigate their academic journey effectively.
Objectives of the Study
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To design an AI-powered chatbot that provides instant academic guidance for students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
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To assess the effectiveness of AI-driven academic advisory systems in improving student decision-making and academic performance.
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To evaluate student satisfaction and engagement with the AI-powered chatbot for academic guidance.
Research Questions
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What are the key academic advisory challenges faced by students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria?
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How can an AI-powered chatbot be designed to provide instant and personalized academic guidance?
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What is the impact of an AI chatbot on student academic decision-making, engagement, and satisfaction?
Research Hypotheses
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The implementation of an AI-powered chatbot will significantly improve student access to academic guidance at Ahmadu Bello University.
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There is a positive correlation between AI-driven academic advisory systems and student academic performance.
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Students will report higher satisfaction and engagement with an AI-powered chatbot compared to traditional academic advisory methods.
Significance of the Study
This study is significant as it introduces AI-driven technology into the academic advisory system at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. By implementing an AI-powered chatbot, the university can enhance student access to timely academic guidance, reduce administrative workload, and improve decision-making in course selection and academic planning. The findings of this research will provide valuable insights for university administrators, policymakers, and technology developers on how AI can optimize academic support services. Additionally, the study could serve as a model for other Nigerian universities seeking to integrate AI into their student advisory frameworks.
Scope and Limitations of the Study
The study is limited to the design and implementation of an AI-powered chatbot for academic guidance at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The research will focus on evaluating the usability, effectiveness, and impact of the chatbot on student academic decision-making. Data collection will be restricted to students and academic advisory staff at ABU Zaria. The study will not extend to other universities or non-academic chatbot applications.
Definitions of Terms
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Artificial Intelligence (AI): A branch of computer science that enables machines to analyze data, recognize patterns, and make decisions with minimal human intervention.
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Chatbot: An AI-powered software application that interacts with users through text or voice-based conversations to provide automated responses.
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Academic Guidance: The process of providing students with advice and support regarding course selection, study strategies, and academic planning.
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Natural Language Processing (NLP): A subset of AI that enables machines to understand, interpret, and generate human language in a meaningful way.
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Student Engagement: The level of interest, participation, and commitment a student exhibits in their academic activities.
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