Introducing Indigenous Perspectives on Data Sovereignty in Engineering Education

Abstract

We live in a data-driven world, and decisions of technology developers impact how the world uses technology. But the education system does not address data sovereignty. This is more relevant in New Zealand, with M?ori data sovereignty being a concern. In engineering education, ethical aspects of technology are taught from a western perspective. This paper describes a different approach used recently in an undergraduate engineering course, where an indigenous perspective was integrated with the predominant western view. Electrical and Digital Systems is a course taken by all engineering students at the University of Auckland. This course teaches the engineering perspective on how data is collected and processed, and hence is the perfect point to introduce the indigenous data sovereignty perspectives. Student feedback received so far supports the success of this introduction. This also prepares our future workforce to be competent to incorporate indigenous world views in engineering decisions.