8 May 2025
On Wednesday 30 April, East Surrey College students competed in SurreyFE’s digital skills competition at Guildford College, presenting their ideas on how ethical AI can be a force for positive change in the world.
The competition saw ESC reunite with Activate Learning, Brooklands Technical and NESCOT colleges to showcase how the responsible and ethical application of AI can help transform the design, media, and digital creative industries. A live presentation at Guildford (Activate Learning) College’s Digital Skills Centre allowed teams to bring their ideas to fruition in front of a panel of industry experts – Peter Gordon, Anthony Barnett, and Bruce Speechley.
A massive congratulations to Ryan, Joseph, Owais, and Akin from East Surrey College who came in joint first place for their insightful presentation on ‘How AI will affect our future and our environment’. Their project explored how AI can be used ethically to build smart cities through intelligent energy-efficient systems, smart waste management and precision agriculture, using drones to fertilise areas where greenery is lacking.
Congratulations are also for Megan, Tomi, Caleb, Kaelan, and Reuben, also from East Surrey College, who came joint third place for their work on how AI can support those with a variety of accessibility needs to create a more inclusion future.
Neil Shoulder, Group Director at Guildford College, praised the students’ work, adding: “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.”
