SurreyFE Digital Skills Inter-College Ethical AI competition

Congratulations and well done to Nescot’s T Level Computing students who did us proud at the recent SurreyFE Digital Skills Inter-College Ethical AI competition, hosted at Guildford College.

The team of four T Level Digital Support Level 3 students, Jess, Jiya, Reece and Safwan, won second place for their imaginative ‘AI Personalised Board Game Experience’ concept.

Abigail Partington-Moran, Curriculum Manager, Media, Music and Computing at Nescot said: “Our Computing T Level students have done us proud securing second place with their brilliant concept, integrating AI and board games—a fantastic example of creativity, collaboration, and technical skill in action.”

The theme for the SurreyFE Inter-College Digital Skills competition, “Ethical AI: A Force for Change”, aimed at inspiring students in the creative industries to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a positive driver of transformation.

Teams were challenged to consider how the responsible and ethical application of AI could propel progress in design, media, and digital creativity. Over recent weeks, students developed ideas and concepts, culminating in a live showcase at Guildford College’s state-of-the-art Digital Skills Centre.

The event was judged by a panel of industry experts—Peter Gordon, Anthony Barnett, and Bruce Speechley—who praised the creativity, depth of thought, and innovation shown by all participants. The competition was fierce, with entries so strong that the judges awarded joint first and second places.

Nescot’s T Level Computing students’ concept, ‘QuizMaster AI: A Personalised Board Game Experience’, reimagines traditional board games through the power of AI. Using smartphones to deliver an accessible gaming experience, QuizMaster AI adapts to each players’ skills level, learning place and personal preferences. From tailoring questions and gameplay to match individual progress, to introducing an AI host with an evolving personality, the game delivers a fun, inclusive and educational journey for all players.

Peter Goodenough, Computing lecturer at Nescot commented: “Beyond entertainment, the team’s concept stands out for its focus on meaningful learning and ethical tech use. It incorporates adaptive difficulty, confidence-building challenges, and a rich achievement system — all while tracking performance and offering personalised feedback. The team’s impressive creative blend of innovation and responsibility, showcases the future of personalised learning through AI-powered play. We are very proud of their achievement.”

We asked our T Level students for their thoughts on the competition experience:

Safwan said: “I really enjoyed the competition. It was good real-world experience, speaking to the judges and answering their questions. It also made us think of how we can improve on our board-game concept.”

Jess added: “We had a really good time. It was great interacting with the other groups, seeing their presentations and hearing feedback from the judges. I found the experience of presenting and showcasing what we created really good.”

Jiya expressed: “It was a great working together as a group and a good learning experience applying our presentation skills, like we have to in the real world.”

Recce said: “I haven’t done anything like this before, so it was great to have this opportunity and good to put on my CV as well.”

The SurreyFE Digital Skills Ethical AI competition is the latest in the series of inter-college skills competitions which brought together the four SurreyFE Colleges: Activate Learning (Guildford College, Merrist Wood College and University Centre and Farnham College), Brooklands Technical College, East Surrey College and Nescot.

Neil Shoulder, Group Director at Guildford College, praised the initiative: “It’s been truly inspiring to see how these young creatives have embraced such a complex and fast-evolving topic. Their ability to combine innovation with ethical awareness is exactly what the future of the industry needs. We are incredibly proud to host and support events like this as part of the Surrey FE collaboration—offering real, meaningful opportunities for learners to shine.”

SurreyFE is a collaborative network committed to driving excellence and innovation across further education in Surrey. The partnership supports joint initiatives, staff development, and learner-focused opportunities across the region, with this competition being a perfect example of their collective ambition.

For information to apply for our T-Level Computing courses visit our website here.