Softskills and Ethics: A Different View on Engineering Competences and Future AI Development

In this webinar IDA Automation will focus on engineering competences such as soft skills and the ability to develop AI applications with an ethical approach. Perspectives that are often  down sized in the AI debates but are nevertheless highly relevant. 

The webinar consists of two seperate talks. 

The first talk will be from Professor and Computer Scientist from the Institute of Informatics of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Dante Augusto Couto Barone. 

The title of his presentation is:

"Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Engineering: Past, Present and Future"

Short description:

Recent advancements in cloud computing and software technology have resulted in the development of powerful Artificial Intelligence(AI) tools for engineering applications.

However, the impact of AI in future engineering jobs remains ambiguous. This lecture addresses recent AI developments, AI applications, the influence of AI in future Engineering professions, and the productivity of engineers. Furthermore, the ethical issues regarding the massive deployment of AI techniques in Engineering will also be covered. To give clearer views about these issues, some surveys conducted in Engineering and Computer Science schools will be included as well.

The second talk will be from Anna Friesel who is retired DTU Professor, previously working at DTU Diplom, Electronics and Electric Power Sections. She is still active as:

• Board member in EAEEIE (European Association for Education in Electrical and Information Engineering).
• Board Member in IDA Automation.
• Editorial Board Member in IEEE Teaching Excellence Hub.
• IEEE Education Society Member AT-Large.
• NSF Reviewer (USA-National Science Foundation).
• Partner in ERASMUS+ Project – Ethical Engineer (Home | Ethical Engineer).

The title of her talk will be:
"Empowering STEM candidates for employability and entrepreneurship with enhanced non-technical soft and transversal skills".

Short description:

Due to the increased demand in industry in Europe, especially in an Industry 4.0 perspective, employees need a more diverse skills profile comprising both hard skills, core transversal competences like digital skills and soft skills. Jobs that require “non-cognitive” skills, such as the ability to communicate and work in teams, grew much faster than jobs mainly requiring skills measurable by IQ or achievement tests. Soft skills are much more valued in the labour market than any time before. 

Mini CV of Prof. Dr. Dante Augusto Couto Barone:

Computer Scientist, Full Professor at the Institute of Informatics of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), with a post-doctorate at the Centre National dÉtudes des Télécommunicatíons (CNET) and a post-doctorate at Aalto University,Finland, a PhD from the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble (INPG), both in France, a master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (USP) and a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from UFRGS. Researcher and advisor of the UFRGS Graduate courses, Computing (PPGC), and Computers in Education. He worked for many years in the coordination of projects with the Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC) and the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI). He is the leader of the National Council of Research (CNPq) research group - Intelligent Robotics and Artificial Vision based at the Institute of Informatics at UFRGS. He is also the author of books in the area of Artificial Intelligence. He represents UFRGS as a Member of the Defense Committee (COMDEFESA) of the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. He has over 300 published works and has supervised over 20 doctoral theses and 40 master's dissertations. More recently, he has focused on issues of Ethics in Science and Technological Development. He has contributed to Technological Innovation, being the general coordinator of a project with Petrobrás (the main Brazilian Oil Company) aimed at developing robots that have the function of unclogging oil and gas pipelines which received the Innovation Award from the National Petroleum Agency in 2021.