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Universities embrace AI for roommate matching, improved administrative efficiency

Published: 24 Mar. 2026, 10:35 Updated: 24 Mar. 2026, 14:50

LEE TAE-HEE
[email protected]

Chosun University holds an opening ceremony for the Glocal Baekhak Haksa dormitory on Feb. 26. Starting the spring semester, the university matched roommates based on student preference using AI. [CHOSUN UNIVERSITY]

Universities are increasingly adopting AI in various fields, ranging from streamlining administrative processes to helping students find compatible roommates.

Many universities are beginning to apply AI across campus, testing how it can be used in ways that affect students and staff. Some efforts are focused on improving the student experience, using data to better understand individual preferences and needs. Others are aimed at making administrative processes more efficient, with AI even reviewing documents and assisting the decision-making process.

Finding the best roommate

When you're set to live with a new roommate for a semester, or an even longer period of time, being compatible in terms of sleep schedule or tolerable noise levels can be very important.

To help students find the perfect match, Chosun University trialed an AI roommate matching program this spring semester.

Students who applied to live in the university's dorms completed a survey about their sleep schedules, daily habits, room-cleaning frequency, sensitivity to noise, smoking preferences and whether they prefer a warmer or cooler room. There was also the option of whether students would like a roommate from their major or not.

Based on that survey, the university used its AI matching program to pair students with the most compatible roommate. A total of 378 students were paired with roommates through the program this semester.

The university plans to see how the paired students get along with each other for the spring semester, getting feedback to decide whether to introduce it as a permanent program starting the fall semester.

"The university plans to officially implement the program starting with the second semester after reviewing how much students are satisfied with the pilot run," said a university spokesperson. “We also plan to share the results with [other] universities so it can help others expand data-driven dormitory management."

Administrative matters

The Yonam Institute of Technology campus in Jinju, South Gyeongsang [YONAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY]

Starting this semester, Yonam Institute of Technology is implementing a service known as the AI Check-on System, in which a so-called AI Officer will check documents submitted for approval, such as project proposals or internal reports.

According to the university, the AI Officer is the first case in which an AI is included in a university's decision-making process.

The AI Check-on System is created with Amazon Web Services and Nextcloud, checking not only simple things such as typos, but also reviewing if documents are missing relevant support materials or if there are any potential risks in carrying out the suggested plans. The AI system is trained with university regulations and budget data, allowing it to check whether submitted documents are aligned with these requirements.

The university also aims to further use AI for its students, developing an AI Caring System, a tentative name, that will analyze students' academic information and suggest career paths and relevant programs they can take. Another AI system that aims to make administrative processes easier for university staff is also in development.

Yonam Institute of Technology isn't the only university using AI to make its work process more efficient.

On March 16, Seoul National University launched AI Vanguard, or a team of 45 university staff that will trial the use of AI in their daily work.

Staff members participating in AI Vanguard will take AI-related courses until May, and work with each other to create chatbots that can help solve problems they experience. An AI Innovation Day event will be hosted in December, with the university reviewing the teams' performance to assess if they will continue with the project.

Following the launch of AI Vanguard, the university established AI guidelines. While the guidelines cover the use of AI in education and research, it also addresses administrative matters, stating that AI can be actively used for tasks such as document review and data management. However, they emphasize that staff must ensure the ethical use of AI to maintain trust and take particular care to prevent information leakage.

Consultation assistance

An example of how professors can use Pusan National University's AI tool when offering consultations to students. [PUSAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY]

Students struggle with a lot of things in university, whether it's about deciding on a career path or needing academic assistance. One way to find help is by reaching out to professors, visiting them during office hours or scheduling a time to sit down and talk.

While professors would be physically sitting down to discuss matters with students, Pusan National University created Sanjinee AI to assist in the process.

Sanjinee AI is an AI agent developed by the university, allowing students and faculty to ask questions specific to the institution, as it is trained on data such as university regulations, the academic calendar and various campus information.

When logged in with a faculty member’s university ID, professors can also use an AI function that assists them with student advising. It allows them to view a summary of past advising sessions and receive suggestions on what to focus on in the current meeting based on previous discussions. Data about the student can also be accessed, such as comparing the student’s GPA for each semester with the department's average.

According to the university, the AI consultation assistance tool doesn't store data for AI training purposes, as personal information can be discussed during consultation sessions.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [[email protected]]