AI in Engineering and Computer Science Education in Preparation for the 4th Industrial Revolution: A South African Perspective

Abstract

Artificial intelligence will play an imperative role in meeting the challenges posed by the fourth industrial revolution. This paper discusses how artificial intelligence can be incorporated into engineering and computer science education to prepare for the fourth industrial revolution in South Africa. The paper firstly examines how artificial intelligence can be incorporated into the engineering curriculum to equip engineers and computer scientists with the necessary skills to solve the complex problems that the fourth industrial revolution will bring. These range from online courses and short courses with certification that can be taken by practitioners, to degrees in artificial intelligence and data science. Artificial intelligence can also be used in the teaching and learning of engineering courses. The paper looks at the use of intelligent tutoring systems and teaching assistants to provide individualised tuition to students, artificial intelligence in blended learning and the use of artificial intelligence techniques for data analytics to identify learning difficulties. The paper also examines mechanisms and a case study for involving industry in engineering education. It provides an overview of initiatives at a South African university, namely, the establishment of research chairs, to promote collaboration with industry in education and industry projects at the undergraduate, Honours, Masters, and Phd levels. The paper examines the role that artificial intelligence can play in peace engineering education and concludes by identifying rubrics to assess the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in engineering education.