Engineering Students’ Perceptions of using Artificial Intelligence Tools in Higher Education: A Phenomenographic Study
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Department of Technical and Vocational Education (TVE), Islamic University of Technology (IUT), Board Bazar, Gazipur-1704, Bangladesh
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of teaching and learning practices in higher
education. This research investigates how engineering students perceive the use of AI within their
academic environment. Guided by a phenomenographic approach, the study employed semi
structured interviews to explore variations in students’ conceptions. Participants were drawn from
different engineering departments Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), Mechanical and
Production Engineering (MPE), Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), and Civil and
Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the Islamic University of Technology. Analysis of the
interview data revealed five distinct ways students understand and experience AI in their studies.
They viewed AI as a) an essential academic aid, b) a facilitator of personalized learning, c) as an
administrative and teaching tool, d) an inhibitor to critical thinking, and e) an ethical challenger.
These insights carry theoretical, pedagogical, and institutional implications for developing
responsible and inclusive AI integration policies in higher education.
Description
Supervised by
Prof. Dr. Mahbub Hasan,
Department of Technical and Vocational Education (TVE),
Islamic University of Technology (IUT),
Board Bazar, Gazipur-1704, Bangladesh
This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Technical and Vocational Education, 2025
Citation
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