Prof. Touhid Bhuiyan

Engineering the AI-Native Workforce: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers for the Era of Agentic AI

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence has evolved far beyond a productivity tool and is rapidly becoming an autonomous collaborator capable of reasoning, planning, and executing increasingly complex tasks. This transition toward Agentic AI is fundamentally reshaping the future of engineering practice, research, and innovation. As organizations adopt intelligent autonomous systems, the demand is shifting from engineers who simply use AI tools to professionals capable of designing, supervising, governing, and collaborating with AI-driven systems. This plenary explores the concept of the AI-Native Workforce, a new generation of professionals who integrate artificial intelligence as a core component of engineering thinking, decision-making, and innovation. The presentation introduces a practical framework for developing AI-native engineers through interdisciplinary education, data-driven competency development, responsible AI practices, cybersecurity awareness, and lifelong learning. Drawing upon recent research and real-world academic initiatives, the talk examines how universities can redesign curricula, research ecosystems, and laboratory environments to prepare graduates for emerging roles in autonomous systems, intelligent infrastructure, cyber-physical systems, digital engineering, and AI-assisted scientific discovery. The presentation also discusses the ethical, governance, and security challenges associated with large-scale AI deployment and highlights strategies for ensuring trustworthy, human-centered AI adoption. The session concludes with a vision for engineering education in which human creativity, critical thinking, and responsible AI collaboration become the defining characteristics of future engineers capable of leading innovation across computer, electrical, and electronics engineering. Profile: Prof. Dr. Touhid Bhuiyan is a Professor in the School of Information Technology at Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST), Virginia, USA. He earned his Ph.D. in Information Technology from Queensland University of Technology, Australia, and has established an international research profile spanning artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, software engineering, intelligent systems, and engineering education. Prof. Bhuiyan has authored more than 250 scholarly publications in internationally recognized journals and conference proceedings. His current research focuses on AI-native workforce development, agentic AI systems, AI governance, cybersecurity analytics, and data-driven decision support. He actively collaborates with researchers and institutions across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia and serves as a reviewer, editor, and technical committee member for numerous international journals and IEEE conferences. At WUST, he leads initiatives in AI education, research innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at preparing future engineers for the rapidly evolving landscape of intelligent technologies. His work bridges academic research and practical applications, with a strong emphasis on responsible AI, digital transformation, and workforce development for the next generation of engineering professionals.