Southern Institute of Technology staff member, Carlo Gabriel, travelled to Sydney, Australia to attend the annual World Engineering Education Forum (WEEF) – December 2 -5, to present research he’s conducted on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in engineering education.
The conference is held annually by the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies and in recent years has been held in Spain, India and Korea. IFEES functions to establish effective, high quality engineering education processes around the world, in more than 30 countries, to assure a global supply of well-prepared engineering graduates.
Mr Gabriel, Programme Manager and Engineering Tutor at SIT School of Advanced Engineering, presented his research paper, ‘Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Education: Perspectives, Practices and Challenges’, which explores the integration of AI in engineering education. “My focus is on its transformative impact on teaching and learning practices within educational environments.”
Using a qualitative meta-synthesis approach, Mr Gabriel’s study reviewed and interpreted existing literature to address the limited research in this area. He examined what educational leaders, academicians, and learners faced in adopting AI-supported instruction. He said the findings highlighted both the benefits and challenges of AI integration, such as enhanced student engagement and active learning environments, alongside complexities in teaching strategies and learner behaviour.
The research concludes with evidence-based recommendations for effective teaching methods; it also contributes to the knowledge base on AI-driven education and offers actionable strategies for future educational practices.
Mr Gabriel said that everything went “exceptionally well” with his presentation and he received encouraging feedback. “... the audience found the research very interesting, with insightful questions about practical implementation and the implications for engineering education.”
“Beyond the presentation, I have had the chance to network with delegates from around the globe, engage in meaningful discussions and exchange insights on engineering education and research advancements.” Mr Gabriel added as well as the privilege of taking part in the conference, being IEEE-indexed, “it adds significant academic and professional value” to his work.
He acknowledged his gratitude to SIT “for the support and opportunity to represent our institution at such a prestigious event. The experience has been immensely rewarding, both professionally and personally”.