Preparing Students for AI-Driven Agile Development: A Project-Based AI Engineering Curriculum

TL;DR

This paper introduces a project-based AI Engineering curriculum that integrates AI tools with agile practices to better prepare students for AI-driven software development, supported by a case study and early evaluation.

Contribution

It presents a novel curriculum design combining agile methods and AI competencies, along with a case study and initial evidence of its effectiveness.

Findings

AI tools enhance hands-on learning in agile projects

Curriculum supports interdisciplinary, AI-enabled student projects

Adaptations are needed for teaching agility with evolving AI tools

Abstract

Generative AI and agentic tools are reshaping agile software development, yet many engineering curricula still teach agile methods and AI competencies separately and largely lecture-based. This paper presents a project-based AI Engineering curriculum designed to prepare students for AI-driven agile development by integrating agile practices and AI-enabled engineering throughout the program. We contribute (1) the curriculum concept and guiding principles, (2) a case study of interdisciplinary, AI-enabled agile student projects, and (3) early evidence from a mixed-methods evaluation. In our case study, second-semester bachelor students work in teams over seven two-week sprints on a realistic software product. AI tools are embedded into everyday agile engineering tasks - requirements clarification, backlog refinement, architectural reasoning, coding support, testing, and documentation - paired with reflection on human responsibility and quality. Initial results indicate that the integrated approach supports hands-on competence development in AI-assisted engineering. Key observations highlight the need for agile teaching adaptations due to rapid tool evolution, the critical role of oral verification to ensure foundational learning. We close with lessons learned and recommendations for educators designing agile project-based curricula in the age of AI.