EFMD Global: AI agent supports students and staff

OPIT – Open Institute of Technology, a global online educational institution, has launched its very own AI agent: OPIT AI Copilot. The institution is among the first in Europe to introduce a custom AI assistant for students and faculty.

OPIT’s founder and director is Riccardo Ocleppo, who previously studied at top business schools including London Business School and INSEAD. He founded OPIT to democratise access to high-quality higher education in the fields that will be in high demand in the coming decades, particularly those in tech, such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, etc.  

According to the recent GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey 2025 report, employers are placing increasing value on knowledge of how to use AI tools when hiring for roles. This indicates the relevance of an education in tech in today’s business landscape, and the adoption of an AI assistant is designed to benefit students within their own AI and tech education.

Speaking on the OPIT AI Copilot, Ocleppo says, “We want to put technology at the service of higher education. We’re ready to develop solutions not only for our own students, but also to share with other global institutions that are eager to innovate the learning experience, to face a future in education that’s fast approaching.” 

An integrated AI assistant for smarter learning and teaching

Developed by an in-house team of faculty, engineers, and researchers, OPIT AI Copilot has been trained on OPIT’s entire educational archive developed over the past three years. Due to this, OPIT AI Copilot can provide responses that adapt in real-time to the student’s progress, offering direct links to referenced sources within the virtual learning environment.

It can also “see” exactly where the student is in their course modules, avoids revealing information from unreleased modules, and provides consistent guidance for a fully integrated learning experience. During exams, it switches to “anti-cheating” mode, detecting the exam period and automatically transitioning from a study assistant to basic research tool, disabling direct answers on exam topics. 

OPIT AI Copilot also supports faculty and staff by grading assignments and generating educational materials, freeing up resources for teaching. It offers professors and tutors self-assessment tools and feedback rubrics that cut correction time by up to 30%. 

The AI assistant was unveiled during the event “AI Agents and the Future of Higher Education” hosted at Microsoft Italia in Milan in June 2025, bringing together representatives from some of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions to discuss the impact of AI in education. This featured talks from founder and director Ocleppo alongside OPIT Rector Francesco Profumo, as well as talks from Danielle Barrios O’Neill from the Royal College of Art and Francisco Machin from IE University. 

Through live demos and panel discussions, the event explored how the technological revolution is redefining study, teaching, and interaction between students, educators, and institutions, opening new possibilities for the future of higher education. 

 “We’re in the midst of a deep transformation, where AI is no longer just a tool: it’s an environment, a context that radically changes how we learn, teach, and create. But we must be cautious: it’s not a shortcut. It’s a cultural, ethical, and pedagogical challenge, and to meet it we need the courage to shift perspectives, rethink traditional models, and build solid bridges between human and artificial intelligence,” says Professor Profumo. 

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