Irish researchers embarking on a €1M plus project to progress strategies for the use of AI-generated code for industry and academia

Research to develop future approaches and strategies for the use of AI-generated software code in academia and industry is to be conducted by Lero, Ireland’s top software research centre, at University of Limerick (UL).

The research project will seek to understand how Generative AI and its related software development practices will impact future programmer knowledge, deployment of cognitive models and the strategies used by engineers for the development and comprehension of software systems both in industry and academic settings.

The project, led by Lero researchers within the Immersive Software Engineering Program (ISE) at UL, will explore how computer science education is evolving in response to emerging technologies, with a particular focus on preparing students for careers in modern software development. The project aims to develop strategies to enable educators to integrate and deploy artificial intelligence (AI) based code-generation tools and practices into curriculum design and delivery.

Professor Chris Exton, Academic Director of ISE at University of Limerick, who will lead the research team, with Professor Jim Buckley and Dr. James Patten, said: “This research will help us understand how to best prepare students for careers where technology is constantly evolving. We are examining fundamental questions about how students learn and develop the skills they need to succeed in a software industry that is rapidly changing due to AI.”

The project is supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and builds on UL’s existing collaboration with the company. In August 2022,UL announced the launch of its Global Fellowships programme as part of its BSc/MSc in Immersive Software Engineering, which is funded through a philanthropic gift from AWS, allowing UL to establish and fully fund the programme in perpetuity. The collaboration between UL and AWS has brought global thought leaders from industry and academia to Limerick, reshaping computer science education and research in Ireland.

Lero General Manager, Joe Gibbs, added: “This research project will enhance our understanding of software education’s future. We’re grateful for AWS’s continued support in enabling our researchers to pursue important questions about how we prepare the next generation of software professionals.”

Ian McGarry, Director at AWS in Ireland, said: “AWS is committed to supporting independent research that advances and transforms computer science education. We’re pleased to expand our collaboration with the University of Limerick to enable this important work.”

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