Presentation Summary
In the era of intelligent transformation in higher education, Curtin University has developed an innovative data driven solution to enhance and support student success. The Student Engagement Engine represents a significant step forward in utilising machine learning models to identify and support at-risk students while reducing manual processes and overheads.
The project involved collaboration with Digital Technology Solutions (Curtin IT team), Amazon Web Services and external data scientists to create a sophisticated machine learning model using AWS environments and expertise. This MVP model analysed over 130 features extracted from key data sources, including the Student Management System, Customer Relationship Management System, and Learning Management System. Through careful feature selection, we identified the most significant predictors of student performance, striking a balance between model complexity and runtime efficiency.
To translate complex predictive analytics into actionable insights, we developed a fresh approach to data visualisation. The model's outputs are then synthesized into key business dimensions
The model’s output, through the core CRM facilitates automated communications and enables proactive outreach to students enabling the Support teams to make timely data-driven interventions and decisions while providing opportunities to personalise support to students.
Through combining the power of machine learning and data analytics, we've embarked on a journey to create timely personalised student support. By exploring our journey from data ingestion to automated interventions, and the adoption of an artificial intelligence data assistant (AIDA), participants will discover practical strategies for leveraging AI and data analytics to enhance support services, improve learner retention rates, and drive institutional success.
Meet the Speakers
Brinda Dilip Asarpota
Strategic Projects And Business Transformation Lead, Curtin University
Brinda is a strategic leader championing inclusive environments in higher education.
Currently, Brinda leads Strategic Projects and Business Transformation within Student Services at Curtin University. Her projects focus on enhancing student experience through innovative technology implementations like AWS tools. Brinda's work exemplifies the intersection of strategic leadership, technological innovation, and student-centred service in higher education.
Neville Hiscox
Chief Student Services Officer, Curtin University
Neville is the Chief Student Services Officer at Curtin University where he leads a large diverse portfolio of enabling services and is a member of the University's senior leadership team. With extensive experience across commercial, operational, and digital transformation, he drives organisational excellence through innovative technology adoption and inclusive people focused leadership.
His career spans major roles at Ansett Australia, Air New Zealand, TESNA (KPMG), and Monash University.
Active in sector wide leadership, Neville chairs the ANZ My eQuals Operations Committee and serves on multiple industry bodies and is a member of the AICD.
