Global Education Leaders Converge at SP's International Learning Festival in Advancing Teaching and Learning with Generative AI and Sustainability Focus

24 Sep 2024

MEDIA RELEASE
EMBARGOED TILL 10.30 AM ON 24 SEPTEMBER 2024

Global Education Leaders Converge at SP's International Learning Festival in

Advancing Teaching and Learning with Generative AI and Sustainability Focus

Singapore, 24 September 2024 – In celebration of Singapore Polytechnic’s (SP) 70^th anniversary, SP today hosted the International Learning Festival (ILF), uniting nearly 800 education leaders and practitioners from more than 147 Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) worldwide to celebrate achievements and collaborate on advancing teaching and learning practices in Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Sustainability in Education. The ILF established SP as a leader in contributions to the local and international teaching and learning landscape.

The event was graced by Guest-of-Honour, Minister of State for Education Ms Gan Siow Huang, who underscored the vital role that polytechnics play in shaping Singapore’s educational landscape and outlined how Polytechnic-ITE (POLITE) can continue to evolve and significantly contribute to this ongoing advancement of this landscape.

SP’s ILF brought together a diverse group of education experts, including International Symposium for Advances in Technology Education (ISATE) representatives, Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO) leaders, Learning Express (LeX) delegates, and POLITE staff, creating a unique platform for sharing best practices and pedagogical innovations:

• Dr Isao Taniguchi: President of the National Institute of Technology, Japan
• Dr Ruth Graham: A leading expert in education and technology-driven entrepreneurship
• Prof Kristina Edström: A pioneer in CDIO education and editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Engineering Education
• Dr Ong Yew Soon: A renowned AI scientist and educator
• Assoc Prof Eric Chua: A leading expert in learning environments and self-directed learning

A list of keynotes and institutional speakers and their topics is found in Appendix A.

Key highlights of ILF 2024:

The ILF 2024 comprises the following key events:

1. ISATE: Fostering Technological Advancement in Education

    

   The ISATE convened over two hundred participants from local polytechnics and overseas institutions in Japan, Hong Kong, and Finland to exchange best practices in leveraging technology to improve student learning.

    

   For more details on the paper presentations and roundtable topics at ISATE, you may visit https://isate2024.sp.edu.sg/programme/.

    

2. CDIO: Driving Innovation in Engineering Education

    

   As a co-director for the CDIO International Council and a regional co-lead for Asia, SP hosted the 2024 CDIO International Working Meeting, marking the polytechnic's 20th anniversary of CDIO. Since pioneering the CDIO Framework in 2004, SP has transformed engineering education, fostering innovation and social responsibility.

    

   The SP-CDIO Centre, established in 2022, spearheads the use of the framework to drive curricular improvement and collaborate globally to address educational challenges in a VUCA (“Volatile", "Uncertain", "Complex", and "Ambiguous”) world.

    

   The following examples highlight CDIO’s applications in SP:

    

   1. The CDIO Framework is employed to cultivate students' key competencies in addressing complex sustainability challenges by seamlessly integrating diverse learning approaches from the Engineering and Common Core Curriculum (CCC). By merging emerging domain-specific knowledge and technical skills with essential human and interpersonal skills, students are progressively equipped to collaborate effectively in multi-disciplinary teams, empowering them to tackle the world's most intricate sustainability issues.

       

   2. Beyond engineering, architecture students apply this approach, from conceptualisation to implementation, combined with advanced digital tools. This integration offers them an immersive learning experience in sustainable design, deepening their understanding of how climate-responsive buildings contribute to sustainability goals.

       

3. LeX: Empowering Students and Communities through Global Collaboration

    

   The LeX Conference commemorated its 10^th anniversary, celebrating the achievements of student projects that have positively impacted over 200 communities across 10 countries. The event brings together 130 top leaders, senior management, and specialists from 34 IHLs in ASEAN countries and India to share LeX successes and explore new collaboration opportunities. By aiming to engage 1,200 students in LeX by 2025, SP seeks to expand its global footprint and impact while fostering sustainability.

    

   In a series of pioneering initiatives, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) has forged strategic partnerships with institutes of higher learning in Indonesia to drive technological innovation and sustainable solutions to benefit the local community using Design Thinking.

    

   1. SP, in collaboration with Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), Indonesia, has spearheaded a project to enhance goat farming practices in Srunggo village. The team developed advanced tech-based solutions to automate the separation of solid goat waste, streamlining the process and resulting in a cleaner farm environment. The separated manure is also converted into compost and will be sold to horticulture and fruit farmers in the surrounding villages, creating a sustainable cycle that benefits the local community.

       

   2. To tackle environmental challenges, another SP team partnered with Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), Indonesia, to convert plastic waste into eco-bricks as reusable building blocks in Kalidadap, Yogyakarta. This transformative project significantly prevents plastic waste burning and pollution, redefining sustainable construction in Yogyakarta by repurposing waste into valuable, eco-friendly materials.

       

   3. To reduce agricultural wastage, SP, in collaboration with Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Indonesia, has spearheaded an initiative to identify and develop product solutions using aromatic ginger (kencur) cultivated in abundance in rural Jingkang village, Sumedang Regency, West Java. This pioneering effort paves the way for the creation of novel consumer care and food products, allowing the villagers to achieve a more sustainable income than selling raw produce. By capitalising on the region's abundant natural resources, these product innovations enhance consumer experiences, expand market offerings, elevate income levels, and significantly reduce agricultural wastage.

       

4. Gen AI Exhibition for Teaching & Learning

The Gen AI Exhibition, hosted on 25 September, will highlight achievements and innovations in Generative AI by an international community of educators spanning diverse disciplines, domains, and educational levels. This event will provide a unique opportunity for the global community to exchange insights, learn from successes and challenges, and collaboratively enhance teaching and learning practices worldwide.

Highlights of the exhibition being displayed will include creative uses of Gen AI, for example:

1. In a recent study by Singapore Polytechnic, a team explored the effectiveness of the Generative AI application 'AskWhat, Cher?' and found it significantly enhanced students' self-directed learning. The app utilises chatbots and exit polls, prompting students to reflect on what they have learned at the end of each lesson. The AI then analyses these responses to assess whether desired learning outcomes are met and to identify potential learning gaps. Additionally, students use the chatbots for revision and fact-checking, enhancing engagement and motivation within students and effectively supporting flipped learning pedagogies.

    

2. In a study by Wakayama College at the National Institute of Technology, Japan, researchers investigated the effectiveness of an AI-powered English application designed to improve students' writing skills. The study benchmarked students' work against the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) standards, evaluating the application’s ability to enhance English language proficiency for non-native speakers.

For details about these events, please refer to Appendix B.

Mr Soh Wai Wah, Principal and CEO of SP, said, “The ILF 2024 showcases SP’s dedication to innovative teaching and collaborative learning. We aim to enhance teaching practices and student learning through global partnerships and explore Generative AI and Sustainability in Education. Delegates will share insights at conference presentations and the Generative AI exhibition. We will also discuss advancing the “Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate” framework and strengthening collaborations amongst ASEAN countries through the SP LeX Programme. SP remains committed to fostering innovation and partnerships in education.”

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