Preparing students for the quantum information revolution: Interdisciplinary teaching, curriculum development, and advising in quantum information science and engineering

Abstract

As the field of quantum information science and engineering (QISE) continues its rapid growth, there are increasing concerns about the workforce demands and the necessity of preparing students for quantum-related careers. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the field, it is necessary to offer diverse educational opportunities to ensure that students are well-prepared for careers emerging from the second quantum revolution. In this paper, we present our findings from a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with university QISE educators, who have taken on the challenges and opportunities in developing QISE courses and curricula for undergraduate and graduate students from different academic backgrounds. Our findings focus on common themes across undergraduate and graduate QISE education, as well as advising and mentoring students to prepare them for research in the field. The interviewees discussed the various strategies they had implemented, such as incorporating hands-on lab activities, integration of Python coding with Qiskit, and including project-based learning experiences. Furthermore, their reflections on mentorship and advising students emphasized the importance of recognizing students' prior preparation, providing targeted resources, and supportive learning environments. Our findings are meant to provide guidance for educators looking to implement effective QISE educational strategies that address the changing landscape of quantum information revolution.

References in corpus (9)

• The Quantum Internet
• Quantum computational advantage using photons
• Satellite-to-ground quantum key distribution
• Preparing Pre-College Students for the Second Quantum Revolution with Core Concepts in Quantum Information Science
• Investigating and improving student understanding of the basics of quantum computing
• Student Understanding of the Bloch Sphere
• Can students apply the concept of "which-path" information learned in the context of Mach Zehnder Interferometer to the double-slit experiment?
• Reflections of quantum educators on strategies to diversify the second quantum revolution
• Strategies educators can use to counter misinformation related to the quantum information revolution