The NC State All-campus Data Science and AI Project-based Teaching and Learning (ADAPT) Model: A mechanism for interdisciplinary engagement in workforce-relevant learning
This addresses the problem of siloed education in data science and AI for students and faculty across all university disciplines, though it is incremental as it builds on existing institutional structures.
NC State University tackled the challenge of integrating data science and AI education across all disciplines by creating an Academy that spans departments and colleges, resulting in a unified approach to teaching, research, and engagement.
Academic institutions have been challenged to adapt as data science and AI have rapidly evolved into disciplines, degrees and careers. Efforts to provide students with learning experiences have led to the development of novel credentials, renamed departments, new schools and even additional colleges within universities. Generally, these approaches are siloed in some way, perhaps separating STEM students from those in the humanities or separating faculty assigned to these courses from their colleagues in their home departments. NC State University decided to take a novel approach by creating a new type of entity called an Academy that would reach across all disciplines, departments, colleges, centers and institutes to catalyze work in data science and AI in all points of the university's mission: teaching, research and engagement.