UIT is Making Research More Efficient

mjeremic — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:37:09 +0000

91��ɫ has positioned itself at the forefront of AI adoption in Canadian higher education, thanks in no small part to the launch of YU AURA.��While YU AURA can be used by anyone at 91��ɫ, one of its standout features is its ability to empower research. Faculty can��use the YU AURA bot to��act as their very own��bilingual��research assistant.

What Makes the AURA Research Assistant Special

Unlike other generic AI tools, the AURA research assistant is built in-house, meaning your data is protected, private, and remains your property. The bot is trained on 91��ɫ data, making it more efficient for 91��ɫ-specific research initiatives. The assistant is also easily customized. You can edit your bot to behave exactly how you want, ensuring your responses are bespoke and consistent. It can even adapt to the style of writing and research that you are doing. You can also easily share access to your AI assistant with other researchers at 91��ɫ, and if needed, with other university researchers. The assistant is not only bilingual but can be trained on any language!

By customizing an AURA bot to act as your assistant, you can turn your research notes into easy-to-understand, academically formatted documents. This allows faculty to spend more time on meaningful research and less time on tedious tasks. Here's a real example of how one of our faculty members used AURA to assist with their research:

Question: What do Ojibwe people separate from their community think about?

Answer: The experiences and thoughts of Ojibwe people who are separated from their communities can vary widely, but common themes often emerge from the literature on Indigenous identity and community connection. Many individuals may grapple with feelings of alienation, loss, and a longing for connection to their cultural roots and community. The separation can lead to a sense of dislocation, where individuals feel disconnected not only from their physical community but also from their cultural practices and identity.

Research indicates that the separation from community can create barriers to fully embracing one's Indigenous identity. For instance, individuals may feel a desire to connect with their heritage but struggle with feelings of inadequacy or guilt, particularly if they can "pass" as non-Indigenous (Barnes & Voyageur, 2014). This internal conflict can lead to a longing for belonging and acceptance within both their Indigenous community and the broader society.

Moreover, the impact of historical trauma and ongoing colonial practices can exacerbate these feelings. The disconnection from land and community is often at the heart of many Indigenous struggles, as maintaining relationships to the land is crucial for cultural identity and community cohesion (Goeman, 2008). The challenges of navigating identity in a contemporary context, where traditional practices may be difficult to access, can lead to a complex interplay of emotions and thoughts regarding one's place in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous worlds.

In summary, Ojibwe individuals separated from their communities may reflect on their identity, the significance of community ties, and the challenges posed by their separation, often leading to a deep yearning for reconnection and understanding of their cultural heritage.

References

Barnes, T., & Voyageur, C. (2014). Indigenous identity and the challenges of belonging.

Goeman, M. (2008). Mark My Words: Native Women Mapping Our Nations. University of Minnesota Press.

Our Suggestions

When using AI, there are always minor tweaks the user can make on their��end to ensure��optimal��output.��We encourage all researchers to customize their AI research��bot��as much as possible.��For example, you can��customize��your assistant to provide��a response��in any tone from informal to sympathetic to clinical.��If you need any help��with customization��or with figuring out what type of bit would be most helpful for your work, UIT is here to help!��

How to get started?

YU AURA is available to all faculty at 91��ɫ.��If��you're��interested��in using AURA to��assist��you in your research, please��fill out the��AURA request form, and UIT will reach out to schedule a consultation. We look forward to seeing you take��advantage��of the AURA research��assistant!��

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91��ɫ Wins Prestigious CIO Awards Canada 2024 for Innovative AI Project YU AURA

lukegag2 — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 12:58:58 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that 91��ɫ has been named a 2024 winner of the CIO Awards Canada! This award recognizes those who demonstrate excellence in technology innovation and deliver exceptional value to their organization by revolutionizing IT to drive growth and enhance customer experience. We want to celebrate the remarkable work, innovation, and dedication of our IT Innovation and Academic Technologies team in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Our Winning Project

We were recognized for our groundbreaking CRIA prototype, now YU AURA—a Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) solution designed to provide quick and reliable 24/7 support to 91��ɫ’s students, faculty, and staff.

YU AURA combines pre-trained language models with advanced indexing technology to access and use external information, making it a secure, scalable tool that empowers users to create GenAI solutions in less than 5 minutes. It’s designed to support various business scenarios, from enhancing student support with a virtual assistant that answers questions around the clock, to improving internal processes across departments such as HR, IT, and procurement.

YU AURA’s user-friendly, no-code interface gives users complete control over their AI solutions, reducing reliance on third-party vendors and allowing for greater flexibility and customization. It also enhances security and protects personal information by leveraging multiple in-house servers.

Patrick Thibaudeau, Director of IT Innovation and Academic Technologies, had the following to say about the win and his team’s hard work:

I am incredibly proud that our Education Design & IT Innovation team won the prestigious CIO Award for our innovative project, CRIA. This project, an AI RAG system specifically designed for Higher Education, exemplifies our entire team's dedication, creativity, and hard work.

This award is a recognition of our innovative approach and a celebration of the collaborative spirit and relentless effort that each team member has contributed, including all the staff and faculty members who helped us test the prototype. CRIA’s success reflects our commitment to enhancing our community's educational experience and providing valuable tools for everyone at 91��ɫ.

Pictured from left to right: Brad Strom, Patrick Thibaudeau, Vidur Kalive, Isaac Kogan.

Impact on 91��ɫ

YU AURA augments 91��ɫ’s digital landscape, bringing value to our institution by streamlining business processes and increasing operational efficiency. YU AURA isn’t just another AI bot; it’s a platform that enables the development of cutting-edge AI solutions across various departments, including HR, IT, Housing, Procurement, Recruitment, our Libraries, and Registrar’s Office. It also supports instructors with course design and delivery, joining AI innovation with education.

Looking Ahead

Our next step is integrating YU AURA into Microsoft Teams and Outlook, ensuring that services and support are just a message away.

We’ll also launch an AI initiative page to update you on what’s on the horizon. Let’s keep this momentum going and continue raising the standards of IT excellence.

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