An Interdisciplinary approach to holistic engineering course development: Framework and Practice
In the era of AI, engineering education is undergoing a transformative shift. With knowledge readily accessible online and AI increasingly automating engineering tasks, traditional discipline-specific knowledge transfer is no longer sufficient. The key challenge for educators is to cultivate holistic engineers with humane qualities that AI cannot replace. In the past decade, we have created an interdisciplinary approach to engineering course development that combines design thinking, software development, and practical skills to produce well-rounded engineers. This paper introduces a three-layer framework for interdisciplinary engineering course development. The foundational layer establishes the theoretical basis for holistic development, emphasizing knowing for self-awareness, doing for practical application, being for moral and ethical growth, and becoming for personal and collaborative innovation. The middle layer incorporates rapid, iterative problem-based learning (PBL) as a scaffold for curriculum design. Finally, the top layer focuses on student achievements, highlighting the cultivation of professional, civic, and ethical responsibilities that underpin holistic growth. To illustrate the framework in action, the course ``Interdisciplinary Innovation Methods and Practices'' is presented as a case study. Course evaluations reveal that students achieve academic and professional growth and develop a strong sense of civic and social responsibility. Additionally, this paper offers practical recommendations for curriculum design and pedagogy while discussing limitations and future directions for refining the framework. This approach equips engineers to tackle interdisciplinary challenges in an AI-driven world while fostering the humane qualities essential for societal progress.
Mon 23 JunDisplayed time zone: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna change
14:00 - 15:30 | Student Motivation and Societal ContextSoftware Engineering Education at Sirius Chair(s): Sonja Hyrynsalmi LUT University | ||
14:00 20mTalk | An Interdisciplinary approach to holistic engineering course development: Framework and Practice Software Engineering Education Jin Zhang School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Jun Li School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, Southwest Jiaotong University, Yihong Fan Institute of Education, XIAMEN University, Li Hao School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Naiqi Yang School of Integrated Circuit Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University | ||
14:20 20mTalk | Exploring the Untapped: Student Perceptions and Participation in OSS Software Engineering Education Italo Santos Northern Arizona University, Katia Felizardo Federal Technological University of Paraná, Bianca Trinkenreich Colorado State University, Daniel M. German University of Victoria, Igor Steinmacher NAU RESHAPE LAB, Marco Gerosa Northern Arizona University Pre-print | ||
14:40 20mTalk | DevCoach: Supporting Students Learning the Software Development Life Cycle with a Generative AI powered Multi-Agent System Software Engineering Education | ||
15:00 20mTalk | Factors Influencing Gender Representation in IT Faculty Programmes: Insights with a Focus on Software Engineering in a Nordic Context Software Engineering Education Cristina Martinez Montes Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Jonna Johansson Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Emrik Dunvald Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg Pre-print | ||
15:20 10mTalk | Empirical Study and Vision for a Holistic Serious Game Platform for Software Engineering Education Software Engineering Education Niklas Meissner Institute of Software Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Sandro Speth Institute of Software Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Steffen Becker University of Stuttgart, Uwe Breitenbücher Reutlingen University |
Sirius is located just behind the registration desk.
Facing the registration desk, its entrance is on the right.