Capturing expert knowledge is a common approach in domains that are not yet well mapped out or lack an established body of canonical knowledge.As the need to develop the quantum information science and engineering (QISE) workforce grows, we need to equip students with necessary quantum technology competencies and skills.Quantum sensing receives far less focus in existing curricula compared to quantum computing and communication.There are no standard textbooks, structured curriculum, or established conceptual frameworks for understanding quantum sensing.To address this gap, curriculum developers can draw on the knowledge of experts actively working in the field.This paper presents a methodology for eliciting expert knowledge through semi-structured interviews with a concept mapping activity.We detail the process from participant recruitment to the analysis of the resulting concept maps.Through this approach, we were able to identify detailed mental models of experts on specific quantum sensing protocols.The insights gained from this work will directly inform the development of quantum sensing curriculum and this methodology will be useful for educators and curriculum designers.
Capturing expert knowledge is a common approach in domains that are not yet well mapped out or lack an established body of canonical knowledge.As the need to develop the quantum information science and engineering (QISE) workforce grows, we need to equip students with necessary quantum technology competencies and skills.Quantum sensing receives far less focus in existing curricula compared to quantum computing and communication.There are no standard textbooks, structured curriculum, or established conceptual frameworks for understanding quantum sensing.To address this gap, curriculum developers can draw on the knowledge of experts actively working in the field.This paper presents a methodology for eliciting expert knowledge through semi-structured interviews with a concept mapping activity.We detail the process from participant recruitment to the analysis of the resulting concept maps.Through this approach, we were able to identify detailed mental models of experts on specific quantum sensing protocols.The insights gained from this work will directly inform the development of quantum sensing curriculum and this methodology will be useful for educators and curriculum designers.
Quantum computing is a rapidly evolving field with transformative implications across domains such as cryptography, optimisation, materials science, drug discovery, and artificial intelligence. However, for quantum computing to reach its full potential, it must be accessible to researchers, engineers, and students from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds-many of whom may not have formal training in quantum mechanics or advanced physics. Analogies are powerful tools for bridging these gaps in understanding, particularly when introducing complex and unintuitive concepts like superposition, entanglement, or quantum interference. Yet analogies are often used spontaneously and without critical analysis, which can lead to misconceptions or inconsistent interpretations across fields. This tutorial introduces a structured approach-structure mapping-for evaluating, refining, and co-creating analogies for quantum education. Through collaborative activities, participants will learn to identify where analogies succeed or fail, explore analogies from other disciplines, and gain tools for making quantum ideas more accessible to non-experts. This is particularly valuable for postgraduate educators, curriculum designers, outreach specialists, and researchers working in interdisciplinary quantum projects. By the end of the tutorial, participants will have gained practical skills in analogy evaluation, a toolkit for effective communication of quantum concepts, and a shared vocabulary to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration.
The rapid growth of quantum information science and technology (QIST) presents unique educational challenges as it brings together students and researchers from many disciplines. This work presents findings from in-depth interviews with leading quantum researchers who are also educators, whose perspectives provide guidance for developing a framework for interdisciplinary QIST teaching and builds on our earlier paper that focused on QIST courses and curricula. We discuss quantum educators’ reflections on three critical aspects of QIST education: (1) the development of a common interdisciplinary language, (2) determining appropriate levels of abstraction and physical detail for diverse student populations from various disciplines, and (3) why students should pursue courses, degrees, and careers in this rapidly evolving field. Our analysis reveals that the emergence of linguistic evolutions such as “qubits” and “measurement bases”, rather than a focus on measurement of physical observables and their corresponding Hermitian operators, has begun to create a unifying framework that transcends disciplinary boundaries. Nevertheless, educators face ongoing challenges in balancing the level of abstractness with physical details as well as mathematical rigor with conceptual accessibility, particularly when teaching foundational QIST courses to an interdisciplinary group of students. The experts emphasize that successful QIST education for an interdisciplinary student body not only requires a shift from traditional quantum mechanics pedagogy for physics majors, but careful consideration of students’ diverse prior conceptual and mathematical foundations overall. They encourage students to pursue QIST related courses, degrees, and careers, highlighting the unique historical opportunity to participate in creating transformative quantum technologies while developing transferable skills for an evolving technological landscape. These findings provide valuable guidance for developing a framework for interdisciplinary QIST teaching especially useful for foundational courses.
Quantum technologies are increasingly recognized as a strategic priority for economic competitiveness, national security, and technological innovation in the United States. As quantum systems transition from research prototypes to deployable technologies, attention has shifted toward the preparedness of the quantum workforce, particularly the alignment between higher education and industry skill needs. While prior research has examined individual aspects of quantum education or workforce demand, few studies integrate systematic curriculum analysis with documented industry expectations. This study addresses that gap by analyzing primary U.S. masters programs in quantum science and technology, focusing on curriculum structure and skill development. Using a structured coding framework, course offerings were mapped across six quantum-relevant skill categories and aggregated to produce program-level skill profiles. These profiles were then compared with industry-identified competencies reported in recent workforce studies. The findings reveal strong emphasis on quantum theory across programs, alongside substantial variability in technical skills, applied learning opportunities, and professional development components. The results highlight areas of alignment as well as persistent gaps related to workforce readiness, cross-disciplinary integration, and emerging technological demands. This study provides a scalable framework for evaluating quantum education programs and offers evidence-based insights for curriculum design, workforce policy, and the continued development of the U.S. quantum ecosystem.
The second quantum revolution is driving advancements in quantum computing, communication, and sensing. While quantum computing has gained significant attention in education, quantum sensing remains largely overlooked. In order to find ways of integrating sensing into existing quantum-related curricula, we performed an analysis of six of the most commonly used textbooks in modern physics, quantum mechanics, and quantum computing. We identified a set of keywords related to quantum sensing and tagged all excerpts in which these concepts appeared. For each excerpt, we also recorded the context in which it was presented within the textbook. Network maps were constructed to visualize which keywords appeared in which contexts and the frequency of these occurrences within each subject area. We then developed an analytic rubric to evaluate the conceptual and mathematical depth of these excerpts as well as the extent of sensing-related discussions. Our results show that there is significant variation in how different subjects address these concepts, both in the nature of the content covered and the depth of coverage. We also observe notable differences in how spin-first and position-first textbooks discuss these keywords, particularly in the coverage and contexts in which core concepts such as superposition and entanglement appear. Additionally, we analyzed course titles and descriptions from a database of over 8,000 quantum-related courses, focusing on those that mentioned ``sensing'' or ``sensor''. Together, these analyses of textbook content and course descriptions inform the quantum information science and engineering education community about potential opportunities to integrate quantum sensing topics into quantum-related courses in physics and adjacent disciplines.
Quantum information science and engineering (QISE) is advancing rapidly, creating an urgent demand for a quantum-literate, technically proficient workforce. Despite this need, quantum education initiatives remain fragmented across regions, educational levels, and instructional approaches, which constrains their scalability and overall impact. This paper offers a structured analysis of the current quantum education ecosystem by synthesizing global initiatives, pedagogical strategies, and emerging trends. Quantum education is examined through a dual framework that considers both learner progression and instructional methodology, emphasizing the evolution of educational approaches from conceptual exposure to formal reasoning and practical application. Analysis of data from international programs and academic literature reveals key challenges, including inequitable access, absence of standardized curricula, limited empirical evaluation, and discontinuities between educational stages. Quantum education is more accurately conceptualized as a non-linear ecosystem rather than a traditional pipeline, characterized by multiple entry points, feedback mechanisms, and critical transition gaps. Based on this perspective, directions are proposed for developing more coherent, inclusive, and scalable educational frameworks that align with workforce requirements and technological progress. This work presents a unified perspective on the quantum education landscape and outlines actionable strategies to enhance global quantum literacy and workforce preparedness.
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.