International nursing students at Savonia University of Applied Sciences have tested AliceAI Learning as a possible new tool for learning Finnish. The collaboration began with a single message a little over a year ago, in September 2025. So far around 17 students have tested the app as part of the Development of Interprofessional Nursing Care Internship.
What is AliceAI Learning?
AliceAI Learning is a Finnish AI-powered language learning app designed specifically to develop professional language skills rather than general language skills. It supports Finnish language learning for professionals in fields such as healthcare and defense and combines interactive exercises, specialist vocabulary and conversation practice in a mobile app.
From a single message to a pilot collaboration
Anne-Mari Pitkänen, CEO of AliceAI Learning, contacted staff at Savonia University of Applied Sciences' international unit and proposed a collaboration. Getting started was easy. “The collaboration began with one message and a 90-minute meeting,” says Leena Koponen, senior lecturer in health care and coordinator of the Development of Interprofessional Nursing Care Internship at Savonia UAS.
The first meeting covered the product's content, usability and suitability for the course objectives. The Savonia team wanted to ensure that the activities met the degree program's requirements. The collaboration aimed to give AliceAI Learning an opportunity to test its app with a limited user group and gather feedback from Savonia students to support further development.
In the end, the decision was easy. “Their openness and honest presentation convinced us. We saw potential in the product for our international nursing students. It helps our students develop their Finnish language skills,” Koponen says.
Testing as part of a project placement
The collaboration was built into the Development of Interprofessional Nursing Care Internship, where students can complete their placement in projects run by various partners. AliceAI Learning is one of these partners, and students have been able to take part in the testing if they wished.
The practical arrangements were agreed carefully. A contract was drawn up between the parties, and the project plan set out both the course objectives and the tasks involved in testing the AliceAI Learning app. The beginning and end of the placement are supervised by Savonia, while in the middle phase the students test the app and give feedback on it. Finally the students submit a report to AliceAI Learning and a closing report to the course supervisors.
So far, around 17 students have taken part in testing. “It has worked really well,” Koponen says of the practical collaboration.
The app has been well received by students
In spring 2026 the pilot was still in the testing phase. Even so, Savonia noticed that word about the app had spread among the students. “It's an interesting app and there have been plenty of willing testers. The students have given positive feedback,” Koponen says.
Some students have praised the app with real enthusiasm. ”The application provides meaningful, highly relevant scenarios that directly translate to real-world clinical practice. It is highly beneficial for international nurses planning to work in Finnish care homes, allowing them to acquire crucial practical vocabulary within a short time frame”, says Blessing Amata, an international nursing student at Savonia University of Applied Sciences. Yeseerah A. Lawal describes her experience in similar terms: “This app is an asset; I confirm that to you. I can’t wait to spread the word about AliceAI once it launches!”
Koponen also sees the app's strength from a pedagogical point of view. She finds it useful that the app draws on gamification to support learning. “Even though it isn't really a game, interactive dialogue makes learning the language flow more easily,” she says.
Potential for wider use
Although AliceAI Learning is still in the testing phase at Savonia, Koponen sees clear potential for wider use as well. She has identified six courses in the international nursing degree program that AliceAI Learning could suit.
“We don't yet have an app like this that could be used across such a wide range of courses. The scope is very extensive,” Koponen says.
She also sees the app's potential well beyond her own institution. “I recommend this to everyone studying in an international nursing degree program,” Koponen says.
A decision on adoption will be made in due course. For now the focus is on testing and gathering student feedback, which guide the app's further development.
The collaboration continues
The initial phase of the pilot is complete, and the collaboration continues. Student feedback guides further development of the app, and the team at Savonia is optimistic as testing progresses.
“We hope that at some point we will be able to make the app available to our international nursing students,” Koponen concludes.
