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UNBOUND brings together stories that don’t follow a single path – shaped by real-world challenges, lived experience, and the ideas that emerge along the way. From research to community impact, these are the stories behind SUSS.

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The AI She Nearly Didn’t Want to Use

12 Jun 2026|3 Mins Read

SUSS built an AI-enhanced learning tool used by more than 22,000 learners. One student wasn't convinced at first. Here's what changed her mind.


When Nurin Afiqah first encountered iSmartGuide, SUSS' AI-enhanced learning tool, she wasn't exactly excited. Like many adult learners, she was already balancing classes, assignments, deadlines, and the many demands of daily life. The thought of learning yet another platform felt overwhelming. 

"It felt like an additional chore," she admits. 

Today, however, iSmartGuide has become something she reaches for almost instinctively. 

A third-year Bachelor of Science in Marketing student with a minor in Business and Communication, Nurin was already familiar with AI tools such as ChatGPT and Grammarly. But what surprised her about iSmartGuide wasn't the technology itself – it was how naturally it fit into her learning journey. 

"After using it for a while, it became second nature," she says. 

The feature that made the biggest difference was the personalised AI Quiz, which adapted to her progress and understanding of the course content. 

"It helped me gauge how well I was understanding the content and ensured I stayed aligned with the course materials." 

Sometimes, that's all a learner needs: a little reassurance that they're on the right track. 

Nurin's experience reflects the reason iSmartGuide was created in the first place. At SUSS, many students are balancing their studies alongside work, family responsibilities, and other commitments. Learning doesn't always happen in a classroom during office hours. Sometimes it happens late at night after the children are asleep, during a lunch break at work, or in the quiet moments between life's responsibilities. 

Learning Support, When It Matters Most 

Designed for these realities, iSmartGuide provides real-time, course-aligned support whenever students need it. Today, more than 22,000 learners have used the platform across undergraduate and selected postgraduate programmes. 

Yet, beyond the numbers are countless personal moments that are harder to measure: a concept that finally clicks, a question answered at the exact moment it arises, or a student finding the confidence to keep going. 

That impact is made possible through features such as personalised learning support, text-to-speech functionality, multilingual capabilities, and tools that help students stay engaged and connected to their learning journey. 

The tool received international recognition, including the Best AI Innovation Strategy Award in Higher Education at EDUtech Asia 2025 and Gold Awards at both the Global Digital Intelligence Education Innovation Competition and eLearning Forum Asia 2025. The iSmartGuide was also the finalist at the 2025 QS Reimagine Education Awards and Gartner 2025 Eye on Innovation Awards for Education, and received the Recognition of Excellence Award 2025 at OpenGov. 

The iSmartGuide team receiving the Gold Award for Technology Innovation at eLearning Forum Asia (eLFA) 2025, recognising the platform's role in supporting more personalised and accessible learning experiences. 

But perhaps the most meaningful measure of success is not found in awards or statistics. 

It's in stories like Nurin's. 

"It can ease our burdens by handling repetitive or time-consuming tasks, allowing us to focus more on creativity and critical thinking," she says. "The best way to live with AI is to treat it as a helpful assistant that complements human abilities." 

What began as "an additional chore" has now become a trusted companion in her learning journey. 

 

 

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UNBOUND brings together stories that don’t follow a single path – shaped by real-world challenges, lived experience, and the ideas that emerge along the way. From research to community impact, these are the stories behind SUSS.

Keep up-to-date by subscribing to our monthly LinkedIn newsletter.

Subscribe on LinkedIn