Daffodil Debuts ‘English Mate’ AI App for Students
In the global movement toward modernizing education, there is a growing emphasis on ‘Outcome-Based Education’ and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. In line with this, Daffodil International University (DIU) has introduced its own ‘Interactive AI App,’ named ‘English Mate,’ for students alongside their university studies.
The official launch of the new app, developed by the Department of English, took place on Thursday, December 26, at the university campus in Biruliya, Savar. Under the supervision of Dr. Imran Mahmud, Head of the Software Engineering Department, and Dr. Ehtesham ul Haque Ethan, Head of the English Department, the app was created by DIU student Nohan using the 'Erasmus Lab,' funded by the European Union. This is the first instance of a Bangladeshi university creating its own AI-powered tool specifically to support students in their English curriculum.
The 'English Mate' app will serve as a daily practice guide for university-level English department students, helping them simplify and better understand their study materials. Additionally, students can receive guidance on specific topics in their curriculum directly from the app. The app analyzes the user's learning progress and provides support for their improvement. It features various tools such as quizzes, grammar checks, vocabulary building, and pronunciation assistance. In essence, ‘English Mate’ will function like a personal tutor, guiding students every step of the way.
Dr. Ehtesham ul Haque Ethan, Head of the English Department and Associate Professor at DIU, said, “We want students to move beyond textbook-based education and learn to apply the English language in real life. Through this app, students will have a guide available 24/7 for both their curriculum and real-life English learning needs. Although this app is currently available only to our university's students, we are working on adding more features and eventually making it accessible to everyone.”
The app's creator, Noman, a student of the Software Engineering Department, said, “While developing this tool, I aimed to bridge the gap between technology and education. My goal was to create a platform that would make learning English easier, more interactive, and personally relevant for students.”
The inauguration of the AI tool was attended by the university's Registrar Dr. Nader Bin Ali, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Professor Dr. Liza Sharmin, as well as faculty members, staff, and students.
