Photo: Chatbot Club with Japeto CEO Ingrid Folland (middle row, 3^rd from left) and College staff from the Games Design course

A cohort of ambitious Games Design students at Harlow College have partnered with Harlow-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) developers Japeto to form the Chatbot Club, with the aim of developing a chatbot based on a brief created by the College’s Safeguarding team.

Led by Japeto CEO Ingrid Folland and Assistant Academy Manager for Games Design and Development, Delta Muntean, the club’s aim is to develop an AI-powered chatbot named Hart that will revolutionise the college’s support services. If successful, the chatbot will be deployed 24/7 to direct students using the College’s internal information site to mental health services, safeguarding and other essential tools.

The chatbot will serve as a virtual assistant, offering confidential and reliable information on issues related to mental health, physical safety, emotional wellbeing and other safeguarding topics.

The Chatbot Club is made up of dedicated gaming students who have shown a keen interest in the development of AI-based chatbots. They are eager to learn more about the technology and put their skills to use in developing the chatbot for the college.

The culmination of the Chatbot Club’s hard work was a presentation to staff from Anglia Ruskin University and local Council members at the Arise Innovation Hub in Harlow, where Hart the chatbot was put through its paces, demonstrating how it could benefit college students with safeguarding-related questions and how it could be integrated into the college’s student information site. 

Delta Muntean spoke about the enthusiasm of the students. “The Chatbot Club is a groundbreaking initiative that could have far reaching implications for the college. The students involved were determined to make it a success and are excited to be part of this historic endeavour. I am very proud of what they have achieved.”

Ingrid Tolland, CEO of Japeto, spoke about the collaboration with Harlow College. “We are currently developing a chatbot platform so that organisations can create their own chatbots, and we really wanted to work with charities and organisations that have specific safeguarding considerations such as mental health and wellbeing, areas that chatbots might not be covering, and Harlow College was the perfect partner for us. 

“The students have been really fantastic, especially the way they talk about AI. They have a great understanding of AI technology, which from a business perspective has provided us with so many valuable insights that have come from having younger people interact with us.”  

Owen and Leila are both 2^nd year Games Design and Development students and part of the Chatbot Club. 

Owen: “I’m really interested in how chatbots function, how they operate in the real world and what benefits they have, especially as working in AI will provide future employment and apprenticeship opportunities.”

Leila: “I really think our chatbot could be invaluable, especially for people who struggle with severe anxiety and who don’t feel confident to talk one to one with a person. With our chatbot, they’ve still got a way to communicate without feeling uncomfortable.”

The college is hoping to introduce Hart, the safeguarding chatbot, in the New Year and, if successful, will become a permanent resource for generations of students to use.