DES Gateway - an AI-enhanced, TransNational design education platform

20000

This project explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into education to enhance learning outcomes for design students in a TransNational Education (TNE) context. As design disciplines increasingly rely on digital tools and cross-cultural collaboration, there is a growing need for tailored AI-driven support that addresses the unique challenges faced by students in global educational environments.
The project aims to develop an AI-based tool that provides multifaceted assistance across three key areas: (1) design support, offering real-time feedback on creative work, technical guidance, and inspiration generation; (2) learning and experience support, facilitating adaptive learning pathways, language assistance, and cultural adaptation for TNE students; and (3) FAQ and administrative support, streamlining access to institutional resources and procedural information.
With the rapid advancement of multimodal, generative AIs especially large language models (LLMs), DES Gateway, the proposed AI-enhanced platform will be designed and developed to align with pedagogical best practices while remaining adaptive to the dynamic needs of design education. The research will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining user-centred design principles, leveraging the latest multi-agentic AI techniques, with iterative testing among students and educators in TNE partnerships. This research addresses multiple dimensions of TNE’s service quality matrix, such as academic support, affective engagement and personal development (Zheng and Ouyang, 2023). Expected outcomes include an AI-enhanced functional prototype composed of three AI agents as a multi-agent collaboration, a framework for AI-enhanced design pedagogy, supporting daily needs of students in administrative, study and design aspects, and insights into the ethical and practical implications of AI in transnational learning environments.
This initiative seeks to bridge gaps in personalized education, foster inclusivity, and enhance student engagement, ultimately contributing to the broader discourse on AI’s role in transformative pedagogy.