In this paper, the effects of the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) in higher education (HE) are discussed. A mixed exploratory research approach was employed to understand these impacts, combining analysis of current research trends and students’ perceptions of the effects of Gen AI tools in academia. Through bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review, 64 publications (indexed in the SCOPUS and Web of Science databases) were examined, highlighting Gen AI’s disruptive effect on the pedagogical aspects of HE. The impacts identified by the literature were compared with the perceptions held by computer science students of two different HE institutions (HEIs) on the topic. An exploratory study was developed based on the application of a questionnaire to a group of 112 students. The results suggest that while Gen AI can enhance academic work and learning feedback, it requires appropriate pedagogical support to foster critical, ethical, and digital literacy competencies. Students demonstrate awareness of both the risks and benefits associated with Gen AI in academic settings. The research concludes that failing to recognize and effectively use Gen AI in HE impedes educational progress and the adequate preparation of citizens and workers to think and act in an AI-mediated world.

Petri nets are a well-known formalism widely used in different application areas. Yet, the lack of adequate tools that can be integrated within engineering development frameworks are one major drawback. This paper identifies and justifies the characteristics of one class of Petri nets targeted for the modelling of automation systems and (networked) embedded systems, named as input-output Petri net (IOPT), and its representation using the Petri net markup language (PNML). The paper also presents a set of associated tools under development. This Petri net class, defined on top of the well-known place-transition Petri nets, is the common link across a set of tools under development, including a graphical editor, a state-space analyser for the verification of properties, conflict resolution through automatic arbiter generation, automatic code generators, simulator, among others. In this sense, the main goal of the proposed Petri net class and associated tools is to support the entire system development flow, from specification to implementation.

Along Petri nets' history, numerous approaches have been proposed that try to manage model size through the introduction of structuring mechanisms allowing hierarchical representations and model composability. This paper proposes a classification system for Petri nets' structuring mechanisms and discusses each one of them. These include node fusion, node vectors, high-level nets, and object-oriented inspired Petri nets extensions, among others. One running example is used emphasizing the application of the presented mechanisms to specific areas, namely to automation systems modeling, and software engineering, where object-oriented modeling plays a major role.

Modeling of discrete-event systems using Petri net models is well-studied. Also, their usage for specification of digital controllers is widely used. Yet, it is recognized that we have a lack of tools when facing support for the implementation of these models, namely for automatic code generation. The paper briefly presents the FORDESIGN project that aims to develop a set of tools to contribute for filling this gap within automation systems and (networked) embedded systems development. The set of tools is based on a Petri net class, named as Input-Output Petri Net (IOPT), and its representation using the Petri Net Markup Language (PNML). The paper presents some rules used by an automatic code generator able to produce VHDL code starting with the PNML representation of the Petri net model.

Different tools often implement a single Petri net refinement or composition concept in different ways. This situation is undesirable from an engineering point of view. Here, we present a set of operations on nets based on the concepts of net instances and fusion sets, supporting the specification of net structure's abstractions and net model transformations in an integrated and generic way. The operations are illustrated by composing a net model for a medium-sized control system. The same operations are then used to specify modifications to the initial model

Petri nets have been widely used in the design of embedded controllers, namely in electronic hardware and computing platforms design, as well as within automation application areas. This paper presents updated characteristics of one class of Petri nets, named Input-Output Place-Transition Petri nets (IOPT nets), extended to support networked embedded controllers design and globally-asynchronous locally-synchronous (GALS) systems modeling, together with its associated metamodel and execution semantics. The proposed meta-model is compliant with the Petri Net Markup Language (PNML) metamodel, augmented with the descriptions for inputs and outputs, as well as for time domains and communication channels. The meta-model is described using UML class diagrams and has an equivalent Ecore meta-model that positioning IOPT nets within the Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF).