Here’s our Past Speakers lineup
Prof. Gideon P van Tonder
Associate Professor at North-West University, South Africa
Topic: Shaping Autonomous Minds: Enhancing Self-Directed Learning and Well-Being Through Cognitive Educationis
Prof. Gideon P van Tonder, currently serving as an Associate Professor at North-West University, South Africa, has established a notable reputation in the field of Self-Directed Professional Development for Teachers. He plays a vital role in the Research Unit for Self-Directed Learning at the university’s Faculty of Education. Van Tonder’s academic journey includes degrees such as a BCom, HED, BTech in Education Management, MEd in Education Management, and a PhD in the same field. He has made substantial contributions to the academic world, notably through his extensive publications in prestigious international journals on education management, critical thinking, metacognition, and teacher professional development. Since 2015, van Tonder has published various chapters for reputable publishers like Van Schaik and AOSIS. His efforts at NWU are marked by initiatives to strengthen research skills among faculty and to foster self-directed learning competencies in pre-service teachers, employing innovative pedagogical methods. Van Tonder’s commitment extends beyond academia into community engagement, particularly through projects. One project is dedicated to embedding entrepreneurship education in all school subjects and educational levels in South Africa by 2030. Van Tonder’s dedication to research is further highlighted by his successful supervision of numerous master’s and PhD candidates. His passion and excellence in teaching were recognised in 2019 when he was awarded the NWU Teaching Excellence Award and the prestigious Distinguished Teaching Excellence Award.
Dr. Nicoleta Gaciu
Consultant, Oxford University
Topic: Emerging trends in pedagogy
Dr Nicoleta Gaciu has an extensive experience in education gained over more than thirty years of teaching and researching in schools and higher education. Her academic and research specialisations in disciplines such as physics, statistics, computer sciences, research methods and education have given her the best opportunities to make connections across disciplines, to view real-life phenomena through different lenses and to take different perspectives, knowledge, logical and methodological approaches for interdisciplinary research.
Dr. Binta Lawal Bagiwa
Highlighted Speaker
Dr. Binta Lawal Bagiwa has a Certificate in Public Administration, B.A. Ed History, Masters Degree and Ph.D Degree in Educational Administration and Planning. Currently running post Doctorate Degree. She is a Lecturer. A Fellow in Institute of Organizational and Administrative Risk Management, Honored with an Award of Pillar of Education and the Voice of the Vulnerable. She is a writer and a Philanthropist.
Dr. Zoi Antonopoulou
Highlighted Speaker
Dr. Zoi Antonopoulou graduated with a scholarship from the English Department of the University of Athens and went on for an MA in English Studies at Queen Mary, University of London. She then completed a second undergraduate degree in Social Anthropology and a PhD in Psychology at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences. She teaches Business and Tourism terminology at the University of Piraeus. Her academic interests focus on English for Academic Purposes, English for Specific Purposes, adult education and intercultural education.
Prof.Dr. Amal Dhafer Saad Al Othman
Highlighted Speaker
Prof. Amel got a PhD degree in teaching, specializing in science and biology teaching methods, in 2009 from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, and a master’s degree in advanced science, specializing in botany and microbiology, in 2001 from Western Illinois University in the United States, and a bachelor’s degree in the same total in 1998 from "King Saud University.
Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching Methods, College of Education, Najran University.
Counselor to the present of Najran University
Dr. Philip Kwashi Atiso Ahiaku
Highlighted Speaker
Dr.Philip Kwashi Atiso Ahiaku is Geography Educator and Postdoctoral Research fellow in the Department of Business Management at the University of South Africa (UNISA). He holds a PhD in Geography Education from the University of Zululand, South Africa. His research interests include teaching and learning, environmental education, and inequalities in education. His current research project is making Geography curriculum relevant to students.
Dr. Lin Wang
Highlighted Speaker
Dr Lin Wang is an Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham. He specialises in wind turbine technologies and innovative engineering education. He has participated in several research projects funded by EPSRC and European Union. He has also contributed to innovative curriculum development and has been involved in various interdisciplinary projects that enhance student engagement and learning outcomes in engineering.
Dr. Huifen Guo
Highlighted Speaker
Dr. Huifen Guo, a PhD candidate at Guangzhou University’s School of Education, specializes in
higher education, educational assessment, and creativity. She serves as a reviewer for SSCI-
indexed “Innovations in Education and Teaching International,” SCI-indexed “Heliyon,” and
“Education and Information Technologies.” A member of the University Culture Research
Branch, Chinese Association for Higher Education.
Ali Abdallah
Highlighted Speaker
Ali Abdallah is a computer engineer who graduated from Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom with a doctorate in computer graphics and animation. Ali works as a faculty member in the American University of Science and Technology's (AUST) Department of Computer Sciences in Beirut, Lebanon. Game development, computer vision, augmented and virtual reality, and 3D modeling and rendering are some of his interests.
Topic: Innovation and Disruption: The Two Go Hand-in-Hand.
Dr. Melissa Comer
Professor, Tennessee Tech University
Dr. Melissa Comer is a professor in the College of Education, Department of Curriculum & Instruction at Tennessee Technological University in the United States. She teaches literacy-related courses in traditional and online environments at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Professional activities include multiple presentations, keynote addresses, interactive webinars, various publications, service activities, and diverse research in assorted venues, journals/books, conference proceedings, and reputable organizations. She was recently recognized with the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Award for Excellence in Innovative Instruction. Additionally, Professor Comer has been a recipient of several grants, having most recently been awarded the Faculty Academy grant which supports course delivery redesigns in the online environment. Currently, she serves as the editor-in-chief for the International Journal of Childhood Education, an online, refereed journal.
Dr. Ahmed Hemdan
Past Speaker
Dr. Ahmed Hemdan is an associate professor at the Special and Gifted Education Dept., College of Education, UAE University. He received his PhD from the University of Arizona in 2006. He published over 50 book chapters and journal articles in peer-reviewed journals and books. He is an active member in several international professional associations. He won several local and national awards.
Dr. Tawanda Chinengundu
Past Speaker
Dr. Tawanda Chinengundu is an Engineering Graphics and Design lecturer at the University of Pretoria and holds a Doctorate in Curriculum Studies (University of South Africa) and an MEd in TVET (University of Zimbabwe). He published and reviewed several book chapters and journal articles. Research interests: Technology integration, VET Teacher Education, STEM education, Project-based learning.
Dr. Ibtasam Thakur
Past Speaker
Dr.Ibtasam Thakur (Ph.D) is an Assistant Professor in Lahore College for Women, University, Pakistan. Currently, she is on Postdoctoral fellowship in Department of Education Studies, University of Warwick. Her expertise comprises Moral Education, Inclusive Education, and intellectual disability. She is a member of The Asia Pacific Network of Moral Education. Her scholarly contributions include twenty-four publications in national and international journals.
Dr. Nicoleta Samarescu
Past Speaker
Dr. Nicoleta Samarescu is a Lecturer Ph.D. in the Faculty of Education Sciences, The National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitești University Centre.
She graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics with and master's degree in computer science at the University of Pitesti. Doctorate in the field of educational sciences with the subject of eLearning at the University of Bucharest. Her areas of interest are robotics education, computational thinking, and mathematics.
Artem Chirakhov
Past Speaker
Mr. Artem Chirakhov is a high school student in one of the best mathematical high schools in Russia. He has completed a two-year course in AI and Machine learning from Yandex. Artem is specifically interested in natural language processing and applications of LLMs to problems in education and information retrieval. He has been a member of multiple expeditions in Asia.
Loubna Belouettar
Past Speaker
Loubna Belouettar is a PhD Candidate in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Limerick, Ireland and a passionate English teacher at Student Campus Language school in Limerick, with a Master's degree in Didactics of Language from the university of Constantine, Algeria. Her research and teaching interests focus on the psychology of English language teaching. She is particularly interested in the emotional well-being of the learner in the EFL classroom. She is dedicated to academic excellence and is eager to contribute her expertise and insights to academic and professional communities.
Ran Tu
Past Speaker
Ran Tu is a postgraduate student at Chiangmai University, Thailand, majoring in Knowledge and Innovation Management. Her primary interests lie in Knowledge Management and Language Study, with a strong dedication to advancing these fields.
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