3. Three Principles for Teaching & Learning Design·AI

To collectively achieve the aforementioned missions, SUTD has developed three principles that are central to its Design·AI education. All faculty members are invited to incorporate these principles in their capacity as educators, and in accordance with their disciplinary subject knowledge grounded in academic rigour, as well as in domain expertise gained through collaboration with industry partners (e.g., in healthcare, robotics, cybersecurity, logistics, and the cultural sector). Below are the working definitions of each principle. To see how different pillars and clusters and courses therein might interpret these principles, please consult the SUTD Design·AI Education framework.

Principle #1: Human Judgement, Critical Thinking & Ethical Reasoning

First and foremost, SUTD strives to develop students’ critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills, anchored in disciplinary and domain knowledge. Working towards this principle, faculty members are positioned to guide and support students to evaluate the implications of AI, and to help them make responsible decisions regarding its use in coursework or project work with external partners.

Principle #2: Responsible Use, Teaming & Shaping AI

Second, SUTD aims at equipping students with critical AI literacy, so that they would know how to ethically use and extend AI systems and practice accountability for their decisions both within and outside of the classroom. Such a critical AI literacy includes students’ ability to determine when they ought to set AI aside entirely, and for them to be well-versed in data privacy and other sociocultural impacts of AI as they surface.

Principle #3: Innovation & Creation for Real Impact (Design·AI Innovation & Venture Exploration Principle)

Last but not least, SUTD works to enable students to innovate and create—using and expanding AI where appropriate—to address real-world problems and to put their talents and knowledge in the service of cultural and socioeconomic enrichment.