Research Clusters
Research is conducted through multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional clusters. Expressions of interest are invited via our monthly newsletter at project initiation and again when a new project cycle begins.
Assessment Integrity Cluster
This cluster examines the vulnerability and validity of assessments, aiming to develop practical guidance and recommendations to help educators uphold assessment integrity.
Assessment Integrity Cluster: Project 1 - Analysis of GenAI performance against engineering education assessments
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Project Lead: Dr. Sasha Nikolic (University of Wollongong)
Project Team: Dr. Marina Belkina (Western Sydney University), Dr. Sarah Grundy (UNSW), Dr. Peter Neal (UNSW), Dr. Ghulam Hassan (The University of Western Australia), Dr. Rezwanul Haque (University of the Sunshine Coast), Dr. Scott Daniel (University of Technology Sydney), A/Prof. Caz Sandison (University of Wollongong) and Dr. Sarah Lyden (University of Tasmania).
Q1 2023 Benchmark: Performance metrics published
Q1 2024 Update: Paper published
Laboratory-based Assessment Security: Paper published
Policy Options: Paper published
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Assessment Integrity Cluster: Project 2 - Exploring Alternative Strategies to Uphold Academic Integrity
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Project Lead: Dr. Sasha Nikolic (University of Wollongong)
Project Team: Montserrat Ros, (University of Wollongong), Yasir M. Al-Abdeli (Edith Cowan University), and Helen Fairweather (Engineers Australia)
Status: Paper under review
Project Work Cluster
This cluster focuses on guiding the integration of AI into engineering project work, particularly open-ended projects, an opportunity highlighted by the Assessment Integrity Cluster. To date, it has developed the Project-work Artificial Intelligence Integration Framework (PAIIF) and continues to explore best practices and the impact of AI on student learning.
Project Cluster: Project 1 - The development of a GenAI integration framework for Project Work
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Project Lead: Sasha Nikolic (UOW)
Project Team: Ashfaque Chowdhury (CQU), Kathy Petkoff (Monash), Josh Burridge (UMelb), Shannon Rios (UMelb), Faham Tahmasebinia (USYD), Hamish Fernando (USYD), Peter Lock (USYD), May Lim (UNSW), Peter Neal (UNSW), Rita Prestigiacomo (UNSW), Sarah Grundy (UNSW), Wendy Lee (UNSW), Zachery Quince (USQ), Anna Lidfors Lindqvist (UTS)
Status: Paper Published
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Project Cluster: Project 2 - The implementation of the GenAI Integration Framework into engineering project subjects
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Project Lead: Sasha Nikolic (UOW)
Project Team: Ashfaque Chowdhury (CQU), Kathy Petkoff (Monash), Josh Burridge (UMelb), Faham Tahmasebinia (USYD), Hamish Fernando (USYD), Peter Lock (USYD), May Lim (UNSW), Peter Neal (UNSW), Rita Prestigiacomo (UNSW), Sarah Grundy (UNSW), Wendy Lee (UNSW), Zachery Quince (USQ), Anna Lidfors Lindqvist (UTS)
Status: Project underway
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Ethics
Cluster
This cluster works in collaboration with others to develop a deeper understanding of the ethical, social, economic, and environmental implications of GenAI use by students and academics. It will explore diverse patterns of ethical use, examine the implications students can identify, and highlight areas where further work is needed to support responsible GenAI integration.
Ethics Cluster: Project 1 - Investigation of the ethical considerations and implications identifiable by students
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Project Lead: Zachery Quince (USQ)
Project Team: Sasha Nikolic (UOW)
Status: Paper Published
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Ethics Cluster: Project 2 - Investigation of the ethical considerations and implications associated with GenAI in engineering (in education and industry)
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Project Lead: Kathy Petkoff (Monash)
Project Team: Scott Daniel (UTS), Zachery Quince (USQ), Ruby Michael (Griffith), Emily Faulconer (Monash), Winn Chow (UniMelb) and Sasha Nikolic (UOW)
Status: Paper Published
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Ethics Cluster: Project 3 - Exploring Diversity and Inclusivity in the Engineering Workforce: A Thematic Analysis of GenAI Image Generation
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Project Lead: Zachery Quince (SCU),
Project Team: Kathy Petkoff (Monash), Anna Lidfors Lindqvist (UTS), Emily Faulconer (Monash), Winn Chow (UniMelb) and Sasha Nikolic (UOW)
Status: Paper under review
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Implementation
Cluster
This cluster investigates best practices for integrating and implementing GenAI in the classroom. It aligns practical applications with existing educational frameworks and explores effective, real-world implementations.
As the founding cluster of the 2023 AAEE Engineering Education ACED-Aligned Grant, it played a pivotal role in establishing AAIEEC and enabling the formation of all subsequent clusters.
Founding Project 1 - Investigation of integrating generative AI into the learning and assessment of engineering across Australasian universities
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2023 AAEE Engineering Education ACED Aligned Grant
Project Lead: Dr. Peter Neal (UNSW)
Project Team: Dr. Marina Belkina (Western Sydney University), Dr. Sarah Grundy (UNSW), Dr. Ghulam Hassan (The University of Western Australia), Dr. Rezwanul Haque (University of the Sunshine Coast), Dr. Scott Daniel (University of Technology Sydney), Dr. Sasha Nikolic (University of Wollongong) and Dr. Sarah Lyden (University of Tasmania).
Status: Project underway
SLR on GenAI implementations: Paper Published
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Implementation Cluster: Project 2 - Understanding academic staff perceptions of AI and GenAI
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Project Lead: Dr. Lynn Sheridan (UOW)
Project Team: Sasha Nikolic (UOW), Isabelle Wentworth (UOW), Simon Moss (UOW), Elisabeth Duursma (WSU), Rachel A Jones (UOW), Montserrat Ros (UOW), and Rebekkah Middleton (UOW)
Status: Paper Published
GenAI Tutor
Cluster
This cluster explores the potential of GenAI to serve as a tutor in engineering education. Its goal is to understand the risks and opportunities. Then to develop a customizable template script that students can input into their preferred GenAI tool and adapt to their individual learning needs.
GenAI Tutor Cluster: Project 1 - Identification of prompt and accuracy for engineering content
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Project Lead: Sasha Nikolic (UOW)
Project Team: Yang Ding (UOW), Ashley Heath (UOW), Bao Anh Vu (UOW), Caz Sandison (UOW), Xiaoping Lu (UOW), Brad Stappenbelt (UOW), David Hastie (UOW), Armin Alimardani (UOW), and Scott Daniel (UTS)
Pilot: - Paper Published
GenAI Performance Testing - Paper under review
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GenAI Tutor Cluster: Project 2 - Exploring the impact of hallucinations and student acceptance
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Project Lead: Sasha Nikolic (UOW)
Project Team: Yang Ding (UOW), Ashley Heath (UOW), Bao Anh Vu (UOW), Caz Sandison (UOW), Xiaoping Lu (UOW), Brad Stappenbelt (UOW), David Hastie (UOW), Armin Alimardani (UOW), Scott Daniel (UTS), Peter Neal (UNSW) and Sarah Grundy (UNSW)
Status: - In progress
Governance
Cluster
This cluster aims to investigate how universities are adapting their policy, strategy and guidelines to cater for GenAI. It also looks at the implications for engineering accreditation. The goal is to provide recommendation and guidelines for use.
Governance Cluster: Project 1 - Developing an understanding of institutional approaches to GenAI use
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Project Lead: Euan Lyndsay (Aalborg)
Project Team: Sasha Nikolic (UOW), Winn Chow (UMelb), Mohammad Madni (PIA), Ahmad Swidan (UNSW C), Susan Zhang (LaTrobe), Aneesha Bakharia (UQ), Zach Quince (SCU), Julie Jupp (UTS), Anna Lidfors Lindqvist (UTS), Elisa Martinez Marroquin (UCanberra), Kathy Petkoff (Monash), Stella Peng (UMelb) and Helen Fairweather (Engineers Australia)
Status: Project underway
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Programming
Cluster
This cluster explores how GenAI can support programming education and how programming subjects can be effectively designed to complement and integrate GenAI tools in the learning process.
Programming Cluster: Project 1 - GenAI Peer Code Review
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Project Lead: Shannon Rios (UMelb)
Project Team: Derek Long (USQ), Ghulam Hassan (UWA), Rezwanul Haque (USQ), Jeff Moscrop (UOW), Sasha Nikolic (UOW) and Fahri Benli (Holmesglen Institute)
Status: Project underway
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Work Integrated Learning (WIL)
Cluster
This cluster explores how GenAI can enhance and support Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in engineering education. It investigates the use of GenAI tools to assist students in preparing for, engaging with, and reflecting on real-world workplace experiences. The cluster also examines how GenAI can support industry partners and educators in designing meaningful WIL activities, with the goal of improving student outcomes and professional readiness.
WIL Cluster: Project 1 - GenAI as a tool to assess competency attainment
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Project Lead: May Lim (UNSW)
Project Team: Sarah Grundy (UNSW), Rezwanul Haque (USC), Faham Tahmasebinia (USYD), Ashfaque Chowdhury (CQU), Faisel Tubbal (UOW), Sasha Nikolic (UOW) and Elisa Martinez Marroquin (UCanberra)
Status: Project underway
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Cluster Researchers
The dedicated researchers who have contributed to or are currently involved in cluster work are helping to advance knowledge and drive meaningful progress in the field.
Australia
Central Queensland University
Ashfaque Chowdhury
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Edith Cowan University
Yasir M. Al-Abdeli
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Engineers Australia
Helen Fairweather
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Griffith University
Ruby Michael
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Holmesglen Institute
Fahri Benli
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LaTrobe University
Susan Zhang
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Monash University
Emily Faulconer
James Salamy
Kathy Petkoff
Pat Chen
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Polytechnic Institute Australia
Mohammad Madni
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Southern Cross University
Zach Quince
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University of Canberra
Elisa Martinez Marroquin
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University of Melbourne
Josh Burridge
Shannon Rios
Stella Peng
Winn Chow
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University of Queensland
Aneesha Bakharia
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University of Sydney
Faham Tahmasebinia
Hamish Fernando
Peter Lock
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University of New South Wales
Marina Belkina
May Lim
Peter Neal
Rita Prestigiacomo
Sarah Grundy
Wendy Lee
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University of New South Wales - Canberra
Ahmed Swidan
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University of Southern Queensland
Derek Long
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University of Tasmania
Mark Symes
Sarah Lyden
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University of Technology Sydney
Anna Lidfors Lindqvist
Julie Jupp
Pingtzir Sam
Scott Daniel
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University of the Sunshine Coast
Rezwanul Haque
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University of Western Australia
Ghulam Hassan
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University of Wollongong
Ashley Heath
Armin Alimardani
Bao Anh Vu
Brad Stappenbelt
David Hastie
Caz Sandison
Faisel Tubbal
Jeff Moscrop
Lynn Sheridan
Montserrat Ros
Sasha Nikolic
Xiaoping Lu
Yang Ding
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Western Sydney University
Marina Belkina
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International
Aalborg University
Euan Lyndsay
Other
Information
Resources and other documents used by the clusters
Ethics - Participant Information for various projects
Investigation of integrating generative AI - Student Focus Groups
Investigation of integrating generative AI - Student Survey
Investigation of integrating generative AI - Teacher Survey
Investigation of integrating generative AI - ProjCluster Student Survey