University Orientation through Conversational Technologies: Evaluating the User Experience of an Embodied Conversational Agent

Students making decisions during transitions between different stages of education or from education to work increasingly need effective guidance tools that can respond to their needs in a personalized and accessible way. This study investigates the potential of Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs) in the university context, focusing on the user experience evaluation of an agent designed to guide students at the master’s degree program in Communication Strategies andTechniques at the University of Siena. By administering the User Experience Questionnaire Plus (UEQ+) to 17 students, and conducting an exploratory analysis of their conversations with the ECA, the study provides insights into the role that conversational technologies can play in guidance services, helping foster more immediate and effective interactions in response to the communicative and motivational challenges that characterize academic transitions.