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2026 ECEDHA Annual Conference - AI ECE Accelerator Symposium

Meetings 2026 ECEDHA Annual Conference and ECExpo 2026 ECEDHA Annual Conference - AI ECE Accelerator Symposium

ECEDHA AI ECE Accelerator Symposium

Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 11:30 am - 5:00 pm

 

ECEDHA has established the AI ECE Accelerator Symposium to empower Electrical and Computer Engineering departments to become leaders in AI education, research, and industry collaboration. This curated experience will convene academic innovators, industry partners, and ECEDHA’s expansive membership to accelerate AI integration across engineering programs nationwide. Gain critical insights into how ECEDHA institutions are integrating AI-focused tracks across curricula and research, excelling beyond traditional ECE foundations to equip the next generation workforce for success.

Program Agenda

  • 11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Networking Lunch
  • 12:30 pm - 12:45 pm - Welcome & Opening Remarks
  • 12:45 pm - 1:15 pm - Opening Keynote
  • 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm - Session I: AI and the Future of Higher Education 
    • Today’s universities face transformative changes from AI that extend far beyond the classroom. This session explores the policy shifts, institutional strategies, and cultural changes that are redefining student learning in an AI-enabled world. Experts will address how AI is changing the way students engage with coursework across disciplines, what it means for equity and academic integrity in STEM education, and how universities can prepare graduates for a rapidly evolving job market where AI literacy is essential. Join leaders from academia and industry to examine both the opportunities and the challenges of weaving AI into the fabric of higher education.
  • 2:15 pm - 2:30 pm - Networking Break
  • 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm - Session II: Integrating AI Fundamentals into the ECE Curriculum 
    • Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping how we teach electrical and computer engineering, offering unprecedented opportunities to personalize learning, automate assessment, and prepare students for an AI-augmented workplace. This panel convenes leading educators and industry practitioners to share evidence-based strategies, practical tools, and lessons learned from integrating AI into ECE courseware across the curriculum—from introductory circuits to advanced systems design. Panelists will explore the dual challenge of teaching with AI (using AI tools to enhance pedagogy) and teaching about AI (developing AI literacy and competencies in ECE students), providing department heads with frameworks to guide faculty adoption while maintaining academic rigor and integrity. 
  • 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Session III: Reimagining ECE Research Labs in the AI Era 
    • Research labs are the crucible where ECE students develop into scholars and innovators, yet many departments have not fully leveraged AI's potential to transform how research is conducted, managed, and taught. This panel explores practical strategies for integrating AI tools and methodologies into ECE research labs to enhance experimental design, data analysis, simulation, literature review, and project management—while simultaneously developing students' AI competencies and research capabilities. By thoughtfully integrating AI into research workflows, panelists will discuss how departments can accelerate discovery, enhance student training, and position their programs at the forefront of ECE research—while developing the next generation for an AI-augmented engineering landscape.
  • 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm - Closing Keynote Presentation