Clothing and Textiles Staff Undergo Training in AI Integration and Assessment Practices

Delivering the welcome address, Prof. Rosemary Quarcoo, Head of the Department of Clothing and Textiles Education, described the workshop as a deliberate effort by the department to enhance teaching and learning by improving staff and students’ skills in new and evolving technologies. She noted that AI has become a pervasive tool across disciplines and underscored the need to integrate it meaningfully into the Clothing and Textiles curriculum and research, which remains a core mandate of the university.

She further highlighted the importance of assessment as a critical component of teaching, stressing that while lecturers already design and administer assessments effectively, periodic reflection on best practices and established standards was necessary to maintain quality and relevance.

Prof. Rosemary Quarcoo commended participants for their commitment despite short notice and encouraged them to embrace continuous practice of the tools introduced, cautioning against abandoning newly acquired skills after initial exposure. She urged them to combine AI with human creativity and critical thinking to produce authentic academic work, expressing optimism that the workshop would contribute to developing better students, lecturers, administrators and professionals for both UEW and Ghana.

Chairing the workshop, Prof. Fred Yao Gbagbo, Dean of the Faculty of Health, Allied Sciences and Home Economics Education (FHASHEE), commended the department for its proactive approach in aligning teaching and learning with contemporary technological trends, describing the initiative as timely and essential in the 21st century.

Drawing from personal experience, he reflected on his early exposure to clothing and textiles and emphasised the relevance of the discipline in shaping identity, professionalism and societal perception, noting that how individuals dress significantly influences how they are addressed and perceived.

Prof. Gbagbo encouraged participants to take advantage of the workshop as an innovative learning opportunity to acquire new tools that can enhance design, creativity and pedagogy within the discipline. He also challenged students to leverage their technological familiarity to support collaborative learning, urging a collective effort to project the image of the university and contribute to national development.

Facilitating the workshop, Dr. Philip Siaw Kissi, Coordinator for Capacity Building and Development at the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development (DRID), led engaging sessions on integrating AI into teaching and research, demonstrating its practical applications while cautioning against misuse.

He emphasised that AI should serve as a support tool for idea generation, data analysis and academic writing rather than a substitute for critical thinking, urging students to verify AI-generated content and references using credible sources such as Google Scholar.

Dr. Kissi highlighted that a strong subject knowledge base remains essential for effectively utilising AI and guiding its outputs. He further illustrated how AI tools, including multimedia content generators, could be used to enhance student engagement and lesson delivery.

The workshop concluded with strong calls for participants to apply the knowledge gained in their teaching and research practice, reinforcing the department’s commitment to innovation, academic rigour and continuous professional development at UEW.