Learning at Zhejiang University: Applying the Learning Engineering Approach to ICT-Enabled Educational Innovation

Learning engineering is an interdisciplinary field that uses learning sciences, specifically human-centered engineering design and data-informed decision-making, to support learners and their development. Its theoretical foundation is a blend of scientific disciplines, including learning sciences, data science, computer science, and instructional system design, and it uses a holistic engineering methodology. A learning engineering approach considers the full learning cycle, linking together divergent modules to achieve scalable solutions. As a “team sport” that requires multidisciplinary expertise and integrated efforts across different sectors, it functions as an inclusive ecosystem. This paper introduces the successful implementation of Learning@ZJU, a novel educational system based on a learning engineering approach, at Zhejiang University in China. The development included proposing a new theoretical framework (K-CPS, named for K nowledge graph, smart C lassrooms, learning P latforms, and cloud S ervices), establishing a full-spectrum, cross-sector education system, and building a collaborative ecosystem that integrates education, research, and industry. Although the setting of this study is China, which has the largest student enrollment in higher education in the world, the system has the potential to influence the global education model.