Why We Need to Adapt AI Use in Our Curriculum

Breda University of Applied Sciences is integrating artificial intelligence into education to give students the competencies a technology-driven future demands. Mariana Chinellato Ferreira — lecturer at the Academy for Built Environment and Logistics, and a PhD candidate at the University of Coimbra — plays a key role in that work.

AI in the assignment, transparently

The Logistics Management programme sets first-year students the task of writing a scholarly article on developments in their sector. Students use Microsoft Copilot to outline, summarise and refine their writing — and are required to be transparent about which sections used AI tools.

Ferreira’s point is that fluency and judgement have to be taught together: understanding how to use AI effectively matters, but so does recognising its ethical challenges and broader societal impact. The university supports this with feedback workshops covering citation conventions and responsible use.

Why it matters for logistics

The industry’s own adoption of AI is what makes these assignments realistic rather than academic — they mirror how the work is actually done now. BUas has since extended the approach with Copilot orientation sessions for advanced students, again emphasising ethical use and proper attribution.

The results speak for the method: Ted van de Spijker’s award-winning article came out of this programme.