Proceeding of 2025 8th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2025)

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Generative AI in Engineering Education: A Qualitative Analysis of Practical Implementations Among Non-Computer Science Undergraduates

Authors
Xuanqi Zhang1, *
1University of Southampton Joint Institute, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China
*Corresponding author. Email: 2567445285@qq.com
Corresponding Author
Xuanqi Zhang
Available Online 26 March 2026.
DOI
10.2991/978-2-38476-551-5_35How to use a DOI?
Keywords
generative artificial intelligence; programming education; human–AI collaboration; hidden curriculum; Matthew effect; tiered empowerment
Abstract

This qualitative investigation examines the practical implications and underlying mechanisms of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) within programming education. It analyzes five non-computer-science undergraduates possessing diverse proficiency levels through comprehensive in-depth interviews and task-based activity tracing. The study delineates a human-AI interaction progression (guided-following, negotiation-collaboration, dominant-validation), elucidates GenAI's dualistic nature functioning (as a cognitive scaffold versus a potential thinking substitute, concurrently triggering a Matthew effect), and identifies significant informal peer learning processes (shaping AI adoption patterns). Consequently, it proposes implementing tiered guidance frameworks and process-oriented assessment methodologies to cultivate effective human-AI collaborative practices within engineering education.

Copyright
© 2026 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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Volume Title
Proceeding of 2025 8th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2025)
Series
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research
Publication Date
26 March 2026
ISBN
978-2-38476-551-5
ISSN
2352-5398
DOI
10.2991/978-2-38476-551-5_35How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2026 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - CONF
AU  - Xuanqi Zhang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/03/26
TI  - Generative AI in Engineering Education: A Qualitative Analysis of Practical Implementations Among Non-Computer Science Undergraduates
BT  - Proceeding of 2025 8th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 309
EP  - 321
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-551-5_35
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-551-5_35
ID  - Zhang2026
ER  -