View in EDS

Cooling the Future: Integrating Design Thinking and Artificial Intelligence to Foster Soft Skills and Energy Education

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Cooling the Future: Integrating Design Thinking and Artificial Intelligence to Foster Soft Skills and Energy Education
Language: English
Authors: José L. Ramírez-Duque, Daniel Morillo-Torres (ORCID 0000-0001-7731-1104)
Source: Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning. 2026 16(3):566-584.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Design, Thinking Skills, Artificial Intelligence, Soft Skills, Energy Education, Technology Uses in Education, Foreign Countries, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Creativity, Experiential Learning, Climate Control, Sustainability, Undergraduate Students, Universities, Student Attitudes, Energy Conservation, Interdisciplinary Approach, Skill Development
Geographic Terms: Colombia
DOI: 10.1108/HESWBL-04-2025-0139
ISSN: 2042-3896
Abstract: Purpose: This case study explores the integration of Design Thinking (DT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education to develop students' soft skills while addressing a real and complex sustainability challenge. The "Cooling the Future" educational experience, implemented at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, in Colombia, aimed to enhance students' problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and creativity through experiential learning focused on optimizing air conditioning (AC) energy consumption on campus by promoting a culture of rational energy use. Design/methodology/approach: Students from 14 undergraduate academic programs, ranging from first to last year, participated in this interdisciplinary initiative. Within this case study, DT and AI were employed as pedagogical approaches to foster critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and user-centered innovation. By engaging in a structured, hands-on learning process, students analyzed real-world energy consumption issues and proposed innovative solutions. Findings: The results highlight how experiential learning enhances students' adaptability, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. The use of DT combined with generative AI fostered a creative and stimulating, yet challenging, learning framework. The empathy component became the central axis of the solution proposals addressing the high energy consumption associated with AC. Through this initiative, participants gained environmental awareness and social responsibility, and five innovative solutions were proposed, integrating technological, behavioral, and resource management strategies. Originality/value: This case study bridges education and sustainability by demonstrating how DT and AI can be combined to address environmental challenges while fostering essential soft skills. Unlike previous research that explores these methodologies separately, this work provides evidence of their joint impact in higher education. The results emphasize the potential of integrating pedagogical strategies with technological and behavioral interventions to create a sustainable and skill-enhancing educational framework.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505951
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1505951
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Cooling the Future: Integrating Design Thinking and Artificial Intelligence to Foster Soft Skills and Energy Education
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22José+L%2E+Ramírez-Duque%22">José L. Ramírez-Duque</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Daniel+Morillo-Torres%22">Daniel Morillo-Torres</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7731-1104">0000-0001-7731-1104</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Higher+Education%2C+Skills+and+Work-based+Learning%22"><i>Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning</i></searchLink>. 2026 16(3):566-584.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 19
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Design%22">Design</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thinking+Skills%22">Thinking Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+Intelligence%22">Artificial Intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soft+Skills%22">Soft Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Energy+Education%22">Energy Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+Solving%22">Problem Solving</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teamwork%22">Teamwork</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Creativity%22">Creativity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+Learning%22">Experiential Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Climate+Control%22">Climate Control</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sustainability%22">Sustainability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities%22">Universities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Energy+Conservation%22">Energy Conservation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interdisciplinary+Approach%22">Interdisciplinary Approach</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skill+Development%22">Skill Development</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Colombia%22">Colombia</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1108/HESWBL-04-2025-0139
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2042-3896
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This case study explores the integration of Design Thinking (DT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education to develop students' soft skills while addressing a real and complex sustainability challenge. The "Cooling the Future" educational experience, implemented at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, in Colombia, aimed to enhance students' problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and creativity through experiential learning focused on optimizing air conditioning (AC) energy consumption on campus by promoting a culture of rational energy use. Design/methodology/approach: Students from 14 undergraduate academic programs, ranging from first to last year, participated in this interdisciplinary initiative. Within this case study, DT and AI were employed as pedagogical approaches to foster critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and user-centered innovation. By engaging in a structured, hands-on learning process, students analyzed real-world energy consumption issues and proposed innovative solutions. Findings: The results highlight how experiential learning enhances students' adaptability, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. The use of DT combined with generative AI fostered a creative and stimulating, yet challenging, learning framework. The empathy component became the central axis of the solution proposals addressing the high energy consumption associated with AC. Through this initiative, participants gained environmental awareness and social responsibility, and five innovative solutions were proposed, integrating technological, behavioral, and resource management strategies. Originality/value: This case study bridges education and sustainability by demonstrating how DT and AI can be combined to address environmental challenges while fostering essential soft skills. Unlike previous research that explores these methodologies separately, this work provides evidence of their joint impact in higher education. The results emphasize the potential of integrating pedagogical strategies with technological and behavioral interventions to create a sustainable and skill-enhancing educational framework.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1505951
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1505951
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1108/HESWBL-04-2025-0139
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 566
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thinking Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Artificial Intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Soft Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Energy Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Uses in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Problem Solving
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teamwork
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Creativity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experiential Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Climate Control
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sustainability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Universities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Energy Conservation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interdisciplinary Approach
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Skill Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Colombia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Cooling the Future: Integrating Design Thinking and Artificial Intelligence to Foster Soft Skills and Energy Education
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: José L. Ramírez-Duque
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Daniel Morillo-Torres
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 2042-3896
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 16
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning
              Type: main
ResultId 1