Bridging the digital divide in bio-manufacturing: construction and validation of an OBE-AI-BT integrated teaching framework using a modified Delphi method

Driven by Industry 4.0, fermentation engineering is rapidly evolving from traditional empirical experimentation toward data-driven intelligent bio-manufacturing. This transition has created an urgent need for engineers who are fluent in both biological sciences and artificial intelligence (AI), yet many undergraduate programs remain compartmentalized, leaving graduates without the computational literacy required for modern research and development. To address this skills gap, we developed a Triadic Integration Framework that combines outcomes-based education (OBE), artificial intelligence (AI), and biotechnology (BT) within a unified teaching model. The framework was validated using a modified Delphi method involving 20 experts from academia and industry. Results from the first round revealed a clear tension between the recognized need for reform and the practical constraints of implementation, particularly with respect to excessive mathematical complexity (mean = 1.60) and inadequate hardware infrastructure (mean = 1.55). Accordingly, the framework was refined by shifting the pedagogical emphasis from algorithm development to tool-oriented application and by adopting cloud-based computing solutions to reduce hardware dependence. In the second validation round, the revised framework achieved high expert consensus (mean > 4.65) and strong stability (CV <=0.10). These findings support the value of a scaffolded curriculum and a Dual-Tutor mentorship model for aligning bioengineering education with the future bioeconomy.