Generative AI and  Engineering Education Expert

Dr Sasha Nikolic is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Wollongong, holding a PhD in Engineering Education and a BE in Telecommunications. With a diverse background spanning industry roles in retail, electronics manufacturing, and IT, he transitioned to academia in 2006 as Laboratory Manager, where he transformed laboratory learning and sessional staff development. He became a Lecturer in 2016 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2019. He served as Head of Students for Undergraduate Engineering (2020 – 2023).
Sasha is internationally recognised for his leadership in engineering education, receiving numerous accolades including Australian Awards for University Teaching Citations (2012, 2019), University of Wollongong Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning Awards (2011, 2018, 2025), AAEE Awards (2019, 2023), the IEEE NSW Outstanding Volunteer Award (2024), the SEFI Best Paper Award (2024), and the IEEE Education Society Meritorious Service Award (2023). He has also contributed to impactful research on Generative AI and academic integrity, and champions laboratory learning as a space for developing uniquely human capabilities in an AI-enhanced education system.
A key focus of his recent work is the role of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in reshaping education. Sasha leads collaborative, multi-institutional research that examines GenAI’s impact on academic integrity, curriculum design, assessment authenticity, ethics, and the evolving role of educators. His work highlights how GenAI is not only a technological disruptor but a catalyst for reimagining teaching and learning practices across engineering and higher education. Through the Australasian Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Education Centre (AAIEEC), which he founded and currently leads as President, Sasha coordinates national workshops, policy reviews, and research clusters that provide holistic oversight of the risks, opportunities, and human-centric competencies essential for thriving in AI-augmented learning environments. He is also a sought-after speaker and consultant on GenAI in education, offering research-driven insights through keynote addresses, professional development workshops, and strategy sessions for educators, institutions, and policymakers.
He is also President of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE) and a Senior Fellow of the Wollongong Academy of Tertiary Teaching and Learning Excellence. A Senior IEEE Member, Sasha has held prominent governance roles including Chair of the IEEE NSW Section, Chair of the IEEE Education Society NSW Chapter, and Secretary of the IEEE Australia Council. He also served as Chair of IEEE TALE2018 and IEEE TALE Steering Committee.