STUDENTS at Bolton College virtually have their own assistant they can turn to for help.

Ada, a digital assistant, is on hand 24/7 to answer students queries, ranging from timetable issues, studies, the campus and much more.

Since being introduced to the college last year, she has responded to over 70,000 questions.

The college's success in using artificial intelligence to help students has now led to it being shortlisted for a top award.

Bolton College has been announced as a finalist for this year's Effective use of Technology in Further Education Award (Jisc) from the Association of Colleges, with its Information Learning Technology Team being nominated for its creation of Ada, a student facing chatbot that supports learners.

The Ada chatbot, frequently compared to Amazon’s Alexa Echo, has already been recognised as pioneering, having won the Innovation Award in September’s Bolton Business Awards. Ada is also making waves in the tech community; early this month, the college partnered with Jisc and IBM Watson to host delegates from colleges, universities, organisations and businesses. They travelled from across the country to see Ada in action and gain an insight into the future of campus chatbots.

Bill Webster, Principal of Bolton College, said: “We are delighted to be nominated for such a prestigious award and to be a leading light in artificial intelligence for further education. The Information Learning Technology Team are to be applauded for their innovative ideas. However, Ada is also very much a college project; students and staff have been involved since the outset and thanks to their input, Ada continues to evolve. In the new year, Ada will be launched as an app for iOS and Android smartphones, and we very much look forward to continuing this exciting technological journey.”

Now in its 24th year, the AoC Beacon Awards showcase best practice and innovation in colleges. This year AoC has joined in partnership with TES, to promote and celebrate the great work and success of colleges and the further education sector.

The winner of the Innovation Award will be announced in March at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. Previous hosts include comedians Dara O Briain, Rob Beckett and Alan Davies.

Carole Stott MBE, Chair of the AoC Charitable Trust, said: “The Beacon Awards were created to highlight the great work that goes on in colleges every day. Colleges do great work transforming the lives of more than two million people each day and are deeply embedded within their communities. Bolton College has done exceptionally well to get this far and we wish them the best of luck.”