26 Nov 2025
How Google Gemini Pro has supported University colleagues
Showcasing use cases for Google Gemini Pro across the University
Following a successful 6-month pilot involving 240 colleagues, Google and the AI Competency Centre hosted the Gemini Pro pilot Showcase, where pilot participants presented their successes with Google’s Gemini, NotebookLM and Google AI Studio tools. Over 70 colleagues from across the collegiate University gathered at Saïd Business School to discover how staff across Oxford are using Gemini to enhance research, teaching and learning, and operations. The event also provided space for networking, practical discussion, and sharing emerging practices in AI.
Participants heard 11 case studies from across the collegiate University on a variety of uses including:
- Supporting handover between roles through structured, AI‑assisted documentation;
- Helping train new staff in complex or specialised procedures;
- Using AI to debug code and accelerate problem solving within Bioinformatics pipelines;
- Streamlining departmental reporting and reducing administrative burden;
- Using AI to create and script training materials to showcase AI to departmental teams.
A panel of judges reviewed the submitted use cases to determine who will attend next month’s Google Leader Series in Higher Education. Congratulations to Morgan Jackson and Kirsty Heber-Smith, who will be joining the AI Competency Centre team at the event.
Slides from the day can be found on the Generative AI resources Canvas.
The Google team shared updates on newly released Gemini, NotebookLM and Google AI Studio features as well as upcoming product developments relevant to education.
The Google Gemini Pro pilot has seen strong engagement and clear benefits with:
- 71% of pilot participants attended training.
- 70% reported increased understanding and more confident use of AI.
- 73% said Gemini helped them work more effectively.
- 85% saw measurable productivity gains across research, administration, and teaching preparation.
As the pilot draws to a close, Google Gemini Pro licences will be made available for staff wishing to use generative AI with higher levels of access to advanced features such as Deep Research and Canvas, as well as Gemini’s new 3 Pro model, through the University’s secure Google workspace.
Advance registration for Google Gemini Pro access is now available through the AI Competency Centre. Annual licences will be charged at £170.00 per person. Provision is expected to begin in January 2026 and licences will run for 12 months.
You can find out more about Google Gemini at Oxford on our Generative AI Tools page.
To apply for a Google Gemini Pro licence, please fill out the relevant form below:
