Conference Speakers
Past Speakers
Dr. Karen Kar Lin HOR
Highlighted Speaker
Karen Kar Lin HOR obtained her PhD from Nanyang Technological University (NTU, Singapore) in Education. She is an Assistant Director in Centre for Applied Research (CFAR) in the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). Her main role in the research office is in grant management. She teaches Psychology of Creativity, Education Psychology and Qualitative Research Methods. Currently, she also mentors gifted education students in the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) and is a member of the Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) at NTU. An Excellent Teaching awardee with research interests in creativity, experience and education, and qualitative research methods (especially phenomenography).
Ms. Mercy Aku Amihere
Highlighted Speaker
Ms. Mercy Aku Amihere is a Natural Sciences educator and education researcher based in Gauteng, South Africa. She is deeply interested in promoting scientific thinking through innovative, learner-centred approaches such as Problem-Based Learning. Her work focuses on improving engagement and critical thinking in underperforming schools. Ms. Amihere received a regional excellence award in 2022 for her contribution to science teaching and curriculum innovation. She actively participates in teacher development programs and science education workshops aimed at transforming classroom practices in South African schools.
Dr. Rakgadi Phatlane
Highlighted Speaker
Dr. Rakgadi Phatlane is an academic holding a PhD from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Being a Senior Lecturer in Education Management and Policy, she teaches and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students. She received numerous accolades, including the Oxford Award for Excellence in Open Distance Teaching, the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Student Support, the Women in Research Award, the Young Academics Award, the Outstanding Leadership Certificate, and the Academic Excellence Award. Her research focuses on education governance reforms.
Ms. Janine Bittner
Highlighted Speaker
Janine Bittner graduated in Geography, Biology and in Pedagogy for Teacher Education at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. She has worked as research associate, senior lecturer and project coordinator in geography and teacher education at several universities in Germany. Janine received intensive postgraduate training in research methodology, statistics, higher education teaching, science and diversity management. Her research focuses at the moment on housing research, diversity and leadership education, impact of SL/community-based research. She uses qualitative, multi-method and mixed-method approaches. Since 2022 Janine has been working full-time on her phd thesis in geography.
Ms. Erika Scalo
Highlighted Speaker
Erika Scalo is a PhD candidate in “Innovation, Technologies and New Materials for Arts” within a National PhD in “Visual Arts Performing Arts, New Media, New Technologies, Music and Cultural Heritage” at the Academy of Fine Arts of Naples. Her research focuses on the integration of generative AI into comics for educational purposes, with a specific emphasis on emotional intelligence education. She works primarily with comics, animation, and storytelling, and is currently developing a database of AI-generated comics designed to promote emotional literacy among students. Her research interests include Artificial Intelligence, Sequential Art, Emotional Intelligence, Narratology and Visual Storytelling.
Mr. Scott Phillips
Highlighted Speaker
Scott T. Phillips, MBA, CPA, PMP is Vice Dean of the Alberta Institute at Wenzhou Medical University (AIWMU) and Faculty General Manager of the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. He also serves as a Visiting Professor at Wenzhou Medical University. In his role with AIWMU, he provides academic leadership for cross-border programs in medicine, psychiatry, dentistry, and public health, ensuring curricula are responsive to both Canadian and Chinese contexts. At the University of Alberta, he is part of the senior leadership team advancing new graduate programs, including a forthcoming Master’s in Health Leadership. He has been recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal and Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 for his contributions to education and community service.
Ms. Sueli Mamede Lobo Ferreira
Highlighted Speaker
Sueli Mamede Lobo Ferreira is a PhD candidate and holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Brasília (UnB). She is a specialist in Education in Diversity and Citizenship, with an emphasis on Youth and Adult Education (UnB), as well as in Strategic Management and Quality, and in Educational Supervision and Guidance. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a teaching degree in Pedagogy. Her professional experience spans teaching, educational administration and management, basic education financing, public education policies, research in the humanities and social sciences, and the monitoring and evaluation of public education programs. She currently serves as Advisor and President of the Municipal Council of Education of the Municipality of Luziânia-GO. As a researcher in education, Sueli contributes as a content teacher and ad hoc reviewer of scientific articles. She is also a member of the CNPq research group Financing Education: Advances and Challenges, certified at the University of Brasília.
Ms. Xiaotong Yao
Highlighted Speaker
Xiaotong (Elle) YAO is an English language educator and researcher with a keen interest in teacher development, mentoring, and well-being in ELT. She is currently pursuing her second master’s degree in English for Academic Purposes at the University of Leeds while working full-time in ELT education. With extensive experience in teaching and academic research, Xiaotong focuses on supporting language teachers through innovative pedagogical models that enhance motivation and professional development.
Ms. Márta Flóra Tar
Highlighted Speaker
Márta Flóra Tar is a PhD student in Physics Teaching at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, and a science educator at SZÁMALK-Szalézi Technikum and Secondary School . With a strong background in STEM education and international teaching, she designs project-based learning units that connect physics, mathematics, and astronomy to real-world exploration. Her passion lies in fostering curiosity and creativity through hands-on experiments and digital tools, empowering students to become confident, independent learners.
Ms. Irini Arapi
Highlighted Speaker
Irini Arapi is a PhD Candidate in Language Science at the University of Tirana, researching “Attention and concentration’s role in the development of reading skills for primary school students in Albania.” She lectures at the Faculty of Foreign Languages while simultaneously teaching English for Specific Purposes across multiple faculties at the Metropolitan University of Tirana. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical educational applications, focusing on how cognitive factors influence early literacy development. Through her research and teaching, she explores innovative approaches to language acquisition and literacy education. An active contributor to her field, Irini regularly presents her findings at international conferences and publishes in peer-reviewed journals, advancing both academic knowledge and classroom practices in language education.
Ms. Rahma Tri Wulandari
Highlighted Speaker
Rahma Tri Wulandari is a PhD candidate in Applied Pedagogy at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. Building on her experience as a teacher trainer at the Teacher Training Center (BBGTK) of East Java, Indonesia, she has designed and delivered numerous professional development programs for educators and education personnel. Her research primarily focuses on reflective thinking and the evaluation of training programs, exploring how these elements contribute to teacher professional growth and improved classroom practices. In addition, her academic interests include the development of curriculum, assessment, and learning media, with a particular emphasis on enhancing teaching quality and educational outcomes.
Prof. Dr. Köksal Apaydınlı
Past Speaker
Dr. Zouhair Gassim
Past Speaker
Dr. Jan MacLean
Past Speaker
Dr. Loucia Demetriou (Dimitriou)
Past Speaker
Dr. Loucia Demetriou (Dimitriou) is a Professor of Cross-Cultural Developmental Psychology (PhD,1988/Albertus Magnus University in Cologne, Germany) at the Department of Psychology and Social Sciences at Frederick University in Cyprus. She taught Psychology as an Adjunct Assistant Prof. at the University of Trenton, N.J. (1990-1993) and Developmental Psychology at the State University of New York – Empire State College (1990-1994). Her main research interests cover the Psycho-social effects of resilience and positive emotions in times of austerity and the pandemic, Socialization and the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Theory, and Counseling and Career Decision-Making of Children and Youth.
Dr. Igor Miladinovic
Past Speaker
Igor Miladinovic is head of the bachelor program “Computer Science and Digital Communications” and master programs “Software Design and Engineering” and “Multilingual Technolgies” at the University of Applied Sciences Campus Vienna. Igor received his PhD from the Institute for Communication Networks at the Vienna University of Technology. His research interests include software engineering, telecommunication networks and IoT with over 50 publications in international journals, conferences and as book chapters.
Dr. Sigrid Schefer-Wenzl
Past Speaker
Sigrid Schefer-Wenzl is a Senior Researcher and Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Campus Vienna and the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Wien). She has previously worked as a software analyst and developer in various companies and earned her doctorate in business informatics at WU Wien. Her current research and teaching activities focus on the areas of software engineering and higher education didactics.
Dr. Chaoyang Lin
Past Speaker
Assoc. Prof. Genti Pano
Past Speaker
Assoc. Prof. Genti Pano earned his degree in Physical Education Teaching from the Academy of Physical Education and Sports in Tirana (2001-2005) and pursued a European Master in Health and Physical Activity at the University Foro Italico in Rome (2007-2009). He began his research career at the Sports Sciences Research Institute in March 2010 and completed his PhD in Sport Sciences in October 2016. Currently serving as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences (2020-2024), he was awarded the title of Associate Professor in May 2023. His primary research interests include physical activity, health, adapted training, and applied sport physiology.
Dr. Hilal Ali Al Maqbali
Past Speaker
Dr. Hilal Ali Al Maqbali is the Deputy Assistant Vice Chancellor for Electronic Systems and Student Services at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Suhar. He holds a PhD in Computing Sciences from RMIT University, Australia. His research interests include eye-tracking, human-computer interaction, virtual reality, and web usability. Dr. Hilal has contributed significantly to academia, including chairing key conferences and receiving international accolades, such as guiding students to top research project awards at the Youth Research Forum in Qatar. He has also led impactful research on tourism and VR applications in collaboration with institutions like Turku University of Applied Sciences in Finland.
Dr. Olga Samsonova
Past Speaker
Dr. Olga Samsonova holds two Masters’s Degrees, one in Early Childhood Education with Special Education Endorsement from Brooklyn College, USA (2009) and the other in History from Simferopol State University, Ukraine (1999). She earned her Ph.D. in Learning, Instruction, and Innovation from Walden University, USA (2017). She has over 20 years of experience in adult continuing education and K-12 environments and currently works as a Lecturer in Higher Colleges of Technology (Abu Dhabi, UAE). Her primary research focuses are 1) Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning, 2) Online Resources for Effective Teaching, and 3) Blended Learning.
Bismark Wiafe Bimpong
Past Speaker
Bismark Wiafe Bimpong is a doctoral student at Ohio University, specializing in Educational Research and Evaluation. He serves as an assistant managing editor for the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice. His research interests include international students and the use of artificial intelligence chatbots.
Oumaima Akdi
Past Speaker
Oumaima Akdi is a PhD researcher at the National School of Management in Tangier, Morocco, specializing in the Teaching at the Right Level (TARL) Program and its impact on primary education. As the founder of the Nibras Association, she is dedicated to raising awareness about autism spectrum disorder and supporting neurodiverse individuals. Through her research and advocacy, Oumaima is committed to creating inclusive educational frameworks and promoting understanding of autism in Morocco.