The Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA) has awarded the Tshwane University of Technology a research chair in Technology-Enabled Technical and Vocational Education and Training. This accolade highlights TUT's leading role in advancing educational research and practice through technology. Prof Ben Van Wyk, TUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Teaching, Learning and Technology, along with Antonie Smith, a lecturer in Electrical Engineering, spearheaded the initiative.
In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the educational landscape, this award recognises TUT's commitment to exploring and integrating AI innovations within the South African educational framework. The merSETA Chair will be dedicated to pioneering research that bridges the gap between technical AI advancements and their practical application in education. This endeavour not only seeks to enhance the efficacy and efficiency of teaching and learning methodologies, but also to ensure that AI technologies are integrated into educational systems in a way that is ethical, responsible and aligned with the nation's educational goals.
The research will encompass a comprehensive exploration of AI's role in education, focusing on developing and implementing AI tools that can be customised to address specific challenges within the TVET sector. Key objectives include adapting AI technologies to support multilingual learning environments in accordance with national language policies and leveraging AI to streamline administrative and evaluative tasks for educators. By doing so, the project aims to significantly reduce the workload of teaching staff, thereby enabling them to devote more time and resources to direct student engagement and pedagogical innovation. The initiative will also engage in the critical examination of curricular structures and pedagogical strategies, with the aim of integrating AI technologies in a manner that prepares students not only to leverage these tools in their academic pursuits but also to apply them ethically and effectively in their future professional lives.
Prof Ben Van Wyk, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Teaching, Learning and Technology.
“As we stand on the brink of a new era in education, marked by the rapid advancement of AI technologies, TUT's leadership in this domain underscores the importance of proactive engagement with these innovations. Through the merSETA Chair, TUT is poised to contribute significantly to the shaping of an educational landscape that is informed, efficient and ethically grounded in the principles of responsible AI utilisation. This forward-thinking approach promises to enrich the educational experience for students and educators alike, setting a benchmark for academic excellence and innovation within the South African education sector and beyond,” said Prof van Wyk.
