Transforming Architectural Engineering Education in Today's Learning Environment: An Education-Centered Perspective with Architectural Engineering as Context

Abstract

Under the combined pressures of carbon neutrality commitments, rapid digitalization, and the broader agenda of engineering education reform, the architectural engineering sector is shifting from experience-driven production toward data-informed, intelligent, collaborative, and low-carbon delivery. In parallel, the educational environment is increasingly characterized by learner-centered design, outcomes-based education (OBE), project-based learning (PBL), hybrid and online modalities, and stronger industry-education integration. Despite ongoing reforms, architectural engineering programs often struggle with misalignment between curricula and industry needs, fragmented practice teaching, uneven faculty engineering and digital capabilities, and assessment systems that overemphasize final results while underweighting process evidence. These gaps can leave graduates underprepared for complex project contexts requiring cross-disciplinary coordination, digital construction workflows (e.g., BIM-enabled collaboration), risk governance, and sustainability-oriented decision-making. This paper proposes an integrated "Competence-Context-Assessment" model that links graduate competencies to authentic engineering contexts and evidence-based assessment. Based on this model, it outlines practical pathways including modular curriculum reconstruction, a longitudinal project spine across semesters, dual-mentor mechanisms with industry partners, the fusion of BIM/digital twin concepts with virtual simulation, the embedding of engineering ethics and safety culture into technical decisions, and multi-source evaluation through portfolios and rubrics. Finally, the paper discusses implementation challenges related to resources, data governance, standards, and educational leadership, offering actionable recommendations for universities and vocational institutions seeking future-ready talent development.