A culture of collaboration and robust digital infrastructure underpin Bendigo Kangan Institute's journey to sustainable, staff-led AI adoption.
At a glance
Organisation: Bendigo Kangan Institute (BKI)
Target audience: Staff, students, industry and community partners.
Timeframe: FY 2025.
Primary goal: Drive AI adoption across BKI to improve operational efficiency, enhance student experience, and prepare graduates for an AI-enabled workforce.
Delivery model: Organisation-wide, phased implementation led by the internal BKI AI Community.
Tools used: Microsoft Copilot, Cogniti, Ready Student Learning Management System, SharePoint, and custom-built AI tools and knowledge bank.
Governance: Board approved risk appetite; new AI lifecycle management framework; oversight by a Digital Advisory Committee with senior industry and academic membership; reinforced with the AI Council and the Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Efficacy (S.A.F.E. A.I.) Framework. Alignment to external standards through ISO42001.
Key outcomes
- More than 20 new generative AI use cases launched in under 12 months, including 12 custom-built products.
- BKI AI Training Academy launched, with all ~1,500 staff involved in one of five learning tracks to uplift AI literacy.
- The largest staff agent-building training program in the TAFE network initiated, with ~100 staff participating across Copilot and Cogniti streams.
- All staff enabled with Copilot Chat, with 500 premium Microsoft 365 Copilot licences issued.
- BKI AI Community formed – 200 early adopters championing AI use across the enterprise.
- Over 100 qualified staff-submitted AI proposals received, with many progressing to implementation.
- AI tools streamlined business development, admissions, and assessment processes, reduced administrative workload, and delivered more responsive support for students and apprentices.
“AI isn’t a technology project to deliver – it’s a new strategic capability to design, embed and scale.”
Dilan Perera, Chief AI Officer, Bendigo Kangan Institute
The challenge
As part of its mission to empower learners and industry with future-focused skills, BKI aims to become one of the most AI-enabled TAFE providers by 2026.
The AI transition needed to address staff, student, and community concerns by ensuring data security, strong governance, and promoting ethical, responsible AI use.
BKI also had to balance operational efficiency with its commitment to enhancing the student experience, while aligning courses and delivery modes with employer and industry needs.
“We’ve had these conversations before – from calculators to the internet. We’ve seen similar fears. Now, we need to learn and teach how to use AI responsibly and ethically, to understand the pitfalls and get the most out of it.”
Elissa McKenzie, Education Framework Lead, Bendigo Kangan Institute
About the initiative
BKI adopted an organisation-wide approach to AI, anchored by four key enablers designed to deliver measurable value:
- AI literacy
- Governance
- New ways of working
- Data and technology infrastructure
Execution of the AI strategy was driven by a dedicated AI Accelerator Team that unified product and platform development, change management and communication, knowledge management, and data optimisation capabilities.
Strategic oversight was provided by a Digital Advisory Committee comprising senior industry experts.
With these foundations in place, BKI progressively rolled out AI tools, launching BKI AI Training Academy, with all ~1,500 staff involved in one of five learning tracks to uplift AI literacy. All staff were enabled with Copilot, and more than 500 received premium Copilot licences.
BKI crowdsourced ideas for AI projects from staff through the ‘AI Idea Scale’ platform, making it easy for anyone to submit opportunities for AI to address business challenges.
Pilot projects were launched to strategically embed AI across identified areas – from administrative processes to teaching and learning, addressing a broad range of business needs and enhancing productivity across the organisation. All projects were implemented in phases, led by internal AI champions.
“The ongoing Agent Builders Training Program and AI Idea Scale platform facilitate continuous innovation and engagement in AI initiatives. We source ideas from the people who are closest to the issues or the challenges that they’re facing. We include feedback loops so people get feedback on their project ideas. And it’s always on.”
Dilan Perera, Chief AI Officer, Bendigo Kangan Institute
The impact
- Key business and staff challenges addressed: In under 12 months, over 20 AI use cases, including 12 custom-built products, have been deployed or are in progress.
- Staff productivity and impact lifted: All staff have access to Microsoft Copilot as their core AI tool, supported by 10 pre-built Copilot agents that assist with daily tasks such as research, analytics, and meeting management. This is already significantly increasing productivity and impact.
- Enhanced enquiries, admissions, and marketing: AI-powered knowledge banks and chatbots have reduced wait times and improved customer satisfaction, particularly for apprentices and those outside standard hours.
- Cogniti learning agents for Moodle: The Cogniti platform is embedding custom AI agents into the LMS, providing seamless, accessible support for students.
- Assessment support: AI tools are reducing administrative burdens, enhancing student engagement, and improving Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), helping to fast-track student progress.
- Document intelligence: AI in development to review approximately 2 million VETASSESS documents annually, leading to key information verification and predictive assessment outcomes.
Lessons learned
- Leadership must champion AI: The biggest supporters of the AI program must be the Board and CEO. AI ownership should sit at the C-level.
- AI adoption is a people challenge: Invest in AI literacy early, at scale, and continuously.
- Data liquidity is critical: Start data readiness early, prioritise what matters, and focus on progress over perfection.
- Success requires all key AI enablers to run in parallel: A two-speed deployment model is critical – delivering quick wins while building strategic capabilities for long-term impact.
- Invest in AI expertise: Practical, proven experience is vital to avoid slow progress and ensure rapid, meaningful results.
Challenges faced
- Change is challenging: BKI’s scale and complexity demanded coordinated change management, with clear executive leadership and active involvement across all levels.
- Student equity: Many TAFE students lack reliable access to AI tools and, like any group, vary in their appetite for AI-driven change.
“We learnt to get the data right. For instance, if Copilot is drawing out of your SharePoint, it needs to be well managed so you can move forward with confidence. We continue to work on it, so we get the best governance model and structure and framework around it all.”
Elissa McKenzie, Education Framework Lead, Bendigo Kangan Institute
Next steps
With an organisation-wide, staff-driven foundation, BKI’s next steps are expansive. Many projects are still evolving, being refined, and scaled. These include deeper AI integration into teaching and learning – such as personalised learning agents, AI-generated content, and adaptive assessment tools.
For example, training designers are reducing courseware development time through AI supported transcripts, content and image generation, and an AI enabled assessment verification tool. Work is also underway on an AI enabled assessment generation and mapping tool planned for early 2026.
BKI is also advancing AI tools to improve RPL processes and outcomes, in partnership with the Victorian TAFE network.
More broadly, BKI aims to leverage AI to accelerate administrative efficiencies over the next year and reimagine the entire student journey, ensuring strong alignment with evolving industry and community needs.
“Transformations like this don’t strictly trickle up or down. Momentum needs to come from everywhere. Executive teams must lead clearly, and operational teams must share ownership, because it’s their work and their projects that will evolve. And, of course, students need to feel the impact – in their day-to-day experience and their career outcomes.”
Dilan Perera, Chief AI Officer, Bendigo Kangan Institute
About Bendigo Kangan Institute
BKI is a major integrated skills provider in Victoria, comprising of four brands: Kangan Institute, Bendigo TAFE, VETASSESS and eWorks.
Get started with AI in your RTO
Learn from BKI’s real-world approach and use the AI Playbook for RTOs to guide your RTO’s AI adoption, created with support from the Skills Accelerator. The BKI AI Strategy is included for reference.