Mariko Oda specialized in educational engineering and received her doctorate degree in engineering from Saga University. She is currently a professor of the Department of Information and Network Engineering and vice director of the Applied AI Research Laboratory at Kurume Institute of Technology, where she is the most active education leader in mathematics, data science and AI education.

“AI Strategy 2019” by the Japanese government set targets to foster AI human resources: approximately 500,000 people per year at the literacy level, and 250,000 people per year in advanced literacy level. In response to such social needs, the Applied AI Research Laboratory of Kurume Institute of Technology led by Professor Mariko Oda has developed practical AI education programs called “AI Education Program for Solving Local Problems.” The core courses of the program are the two required courses, “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (literacy level)” starting 2021 and “Seminar of Artificial Intelligence Utilization (advanced level)” starting in 2022. These courses are integrated with other courses such as mathematics, data science and study abroad. In particular, the honor classes in “Seminar of Artificial Intelligence Utilization” composed of students recommended by each department can continue their study of “PBL for local problems,” which aim to utilize AI for solving local problems in education, urban development, agriculture, production and sales of local special products and social welfare. The number of students who wished to enter into this further study doubled in the second year.

Our “AI Education Program for Solving Local Problems” was selected for “MDASH (MEXT Approved Program for Mathematics, Data Science and AI Smart Higher Education )/Literacy Plus” in 2021. It was also selected for “MDASH/Advanced Literacy Plus” in 2022. These our educational achievements owe much to Professor Oda. In addition, she has been actively disseminating information about our educational system through case reports at the MEXT’s briefing sessions of “Approved Program for Mathematics, Data Science and AI Smart Higher Education” and giving lectures at other educational and industrial gatherings. Our program, therefore, has attracted interest from many universities and other organizations in industry, research laboratories and local governments.

We firmly believe Professor Oda’s outstanding practice and achievements in our engineering education is worthy of the Distinguished Education Practitioners Award, and we recommend her as one of the recipients.