Past Speakers
Dr. Anabela Valente Simões
Assistant professor at the School of Technology and Management of the University of Aveiro (ESTGA-UA)
Topic: Integrating global skills development into tertiary education language learning
Dr. Anabela Valente Simões holds a PhD in Culture Studies (University of Aveiro, 2009) and a Master’s degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature and Culture (University of Coimbra, 2001). She also completed a BA in Spanish Language, Literature and Culture (2013) and a BA in Teaching English and German (1997). She is an assistant professor at the School of Technology and Management of the University of Aveiro (ESTGA-UA) since 2000, where she has taught several courses in the subject areas of languages for specific purposes, intercultural communication and business communication. She also collaborates with the Department of Languages and Cultures of the University of Aveiro in the supervision of post-graduate students. Dr. Anabela V. Simões has undertaken several academic management roles throughout the years, namely positions associated with the coordination of degree courses. Currently, she is a member of the Retail Management Degree Committee and the coordinator of the Languages Scientific Department at ESTGA-UA. She is a full member of the Research Centre for Languages, Literatures and Cultures of the University of Aveiro (CLLC-UA) and a collaborator of the Research Groups on Foreign Language Teacher Training (GEFOPLE) and on Literacy, Culture, Connectivity and Education (LECCE), of the State University of Goiás, Brazil. Her research interests include foreign language teaching and learning, intercultural communication, intercultural pragmatics and students’ transferable skills development. She has participated in international conferences and scientific meetings and authored several articles for various publications. She is a reviewer for several international scientific journals.
Dr. Smilena Dimitrova Smilkova
Associate professor of Music Education Methodology in Kindergarten and Primary School at the Faculty of Social Sciences of “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov” University, Burgas, Bulgaria.
Topic: Preparation of future Listeners through the artistic Image in Music
Dr. Smilena Dimitrova Smilkova is an associate professor of Music Education Methodology in Kindergarten and Primary School at the Faculty of Social Sciences of “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov” University, Burgas, Bulgaria. She has a master’s degree Pianist from the “Pancho Vladigerov“ Academy of Music, Sofia. She received her doctorate in Methodology of Music Education at “St. Kliment Ohridski” University of Sofia. Her scientific interests are in the field of music education methodology, piano methodology, psychology. She is an author of 3 books in the field of music teaching methodology and piano methodology. She presents her research activities at prestigious international conferences in Bulgaria, Ireland, Turkey, Spain, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Czech Republic.
Dr. Wilma van Staden
Rhodes University, South Africa
Topic: Mediating learning in a time of uncertain change
Dr Wilma van Staden has a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Botany and Microbiology, a BSc and a Master’s degree in Aquatic Ecology (Environmental Management). Her post-graduate research focused on aquatic ecology and the limnology of freshwater bodies on sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Wilma’s career in environmental education started when she became an agricultural teacher in 2012 after completing her MSc. She became interested in sustainable agricultural education and joined the ELRC in 2015. Wilma’s research is founded on sustainability, agriculture and environmental education. However, since Covid, her research has shifted to ESD digital learning platforms and framework development and the digital pedagogical principles needed for transformative co-engaged active learning founded on ESD. At the moment, she is involved in a number of research programmes as part, particularly as the online course developer and researcher in the Amanzi for Food, Sustainability Starts with Teachers (SST) and Fundisa for Change teacher capacity-building programme. Across these programmes, broad research interests include transformative social and digital learning, indigenous heritage, ESD knowledge uptake through course-activated processes, the development and functioning of ESD Learning Network, and teacher educator and teacher professional development.
Prof. dr. Edita Slunjski
Prof. dr. Edita Slunjski is a full professor at the Pedagogy Department in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science in Zagreb, Croatia. She is the author of roughly one hundred professional and scientific papers and 27 books. She is the president of the Croatian Pedagogy Association and the leader of the international professional interdisciplinary learning community in early and preschool education (ENNEA). Her research interests include early learning curricula, leadership, institutional culture, qualitative research and alternative pedagogical concepts. Her Awards are 2014. State award for science, 2015. Award of the City of Zagreb, 2022. Annual award of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2022. State award for science.
Prof. Michael Brandeis
Prof. Michael Brandeis is professor of Genetics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After 30 years at the bench, he focuses now on developing innovative teaching methods. He travels extensively to produce educational materials about key subjects in Biology and Environmental Awareness like his MOOC “Sex from Molecules to Elephants”.
Dr. Michael Kehler
Dr. Michael Kehler is a Research Chair of Masculinities Studies at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada. As a gender researcher his work examines, masculinities, allyship, health education, homophobia, GBV and schooling. His collaborations extend between Italy, UK, Australia and Canada with his work recognized internationally in the field of Masculinities Studies.
Ms. Jiawei Zhang
Ms. Jiawei Zhang is currently a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Education at University of Macau. She obtained her master’s degree from Beijing Normal University. Her research interests focus on teaching and teacher education, specifically on teacher identity construction and teacher professional development.
Ms. Deborah Maxfield
Ms. Deborah Maxfield currently serves as a Lecturer in English Education at Rikkyo University, Tokyo, and researches how concepts from her MSc in Psychology apply to second-language education, particularly in how group dynamics combine with cognitive and affective states to affect learning outcomes, group cohesion, student motivation, and L2 anxiety.
Ms. Mahnaz Aliyar
Ms. Mahnaz Aliyar is a Ph.D. candidate at the Victoria University of Wellington. She holds an MA in L2 Teaching and Learning from KU Leuven, an MA in Modern Languages from the University of Bologna, and a BA in the Italian Language from the University of Tehran. Her research interests include second language acquisition and vocabulary learning.
Mr.Kamal Heidari
Mr.Kamal Heidari is a doctoral candidate of Applied Linguistics at Victoria University of
Wellington. His research areas include vocabulary, psycholinguistics, and reading skill. He has published in journals like Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, Thinking Skills & Creativity, Journal of Mixed-Methods Research, International Journal of Early Years
Education, and Discourse and Society.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Zuruzi Abu Samah
Chairman of the mechanical engineering department, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Topic: “Interdisciplinarity in engineering education”
Dr. Zuruzi Abu Samah is a professor at Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has served as chair of the mechanical engineering department since 2019. After earning bachelors and doctoral degrees in materials from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and University of California, Santa Barbara, respectively, he held a postdoctoral fellowship at Agilent Labs, CA and then joined Intel, AZ as a senior engineer. His interest in teaching led him to academic positions in Nanyang and Temasek polytechnics in Singapore, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and Universiti Teknologi Brunei. He has taught fundamental and advanced engineering courses to electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering students. His research interests include students perceptions of learning as well as technical / engineering education.
Prof. Anabela Simões
Prof. Anabela Simões is Assistant Professor at the University of Aveiro (UA), where she teaches Languages for Specific Purposes and Intercultural Business Communication. She holds a PhD in Culture Studies and is a full member of the Research Centre for Languages, Literatures and Cultures (UA). Her main research interests include: intercultural communication, FL teaching & learning and global skills development.
Dr. Wilma van Staden
Dr. Wilma van Staden is an environmental researcher ad e-learning specialist focused on agriculture and environmental education as part of the Environmental Learning Research Center Team at Rhodes University South Africa. Her current research focuses on the development and implementation of digital learning platforms for trainers of trainers integrated with indigenous heritage knowledge, ethical land care and sustainable development.
Ass. Prof. Susana Marisa Loureiro Pais Batista
Ass. Prof. Susana Marisa Loureiro Pais Batista is a Specialist in Rehabilitation Nursing, by the Higher School of Health of Viseu in 2019, Doctoral Degree in Nursing Science in 2018/04/10 by the University of Porto Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Master’s Degree in Health Services Management in 2006/12/21 by ISCTE Business School, Degree in Nursing in 2001 by the Jean Piaget School of Health of Viseu She is currently an Adjunct Invited Professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu – School of Health of Viseu, of which is a member of the scientific-pedagogical unit of rehabilitation nursing. Member of the Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing. Areas of interest: nursing rehabilitation, neuro-rehabilitation, palliative care, spirituality in nursing care.
Mr. Tim Oswald
Mr. Tim Oswald is a lecturer in English language and intercultural business communication at the University of Aveiro in central Portugal. His research interests include the intercultural competence, training undergraduates in research methodology, representations of Portuguese culture online and the formation of the destination image in another language.
Ms Chanchal Singh
Ms Chanchal Singh has 39 years of experience teaching EFL/ESL learners. She imparts Voice and Accent Training at Shantou University. She has an MBA and has received ‘Outstanding Teaching Award’, won 1st Prize a TKT held by MPI Macao & Cambridge University, contributed book chapters to TESOL press, received ‘Best Paper Award’ at conferences. Learner motivation is her field of interest.
Ms Sohani Gandhioke
Ms Sohani Gandhioke has a Masters in English. She has been teaching ESL/EFL learners since 2004. She teaches English at Shantou University and has received the highest Teacher Evaluation Scores. She was awarded the ‘Certificate of Appreciation ‘by Business School. contributed book chapters to TESOL press, received ‘Best Paper Award’ at conferences. TBLT is her field of research.
Mr.Rasheed Al Rayah Sanhoury
Mr.Rasheed Al Rayah Sanhoury has been teaching English in the Sultanate of Oman since 2005. He has a BA in English Language and Literature and a CELTA. His research interests include the study of the Spatial Bias agency, Neurolinguistic, Discourse, Grammar, Material Design, and Professional Development.
Mr.Adam L. Miller
Mr.Adam L. Miller has been teaching in Japan for over 13 years. He is currently working in the department of Global Culture and Communication at Aichi Shukutoku University in Nagoya City, Japan. He is also currently enrolled in a Doctorate in Education through Open University Malaysia.
Mr. Igor Balan
Mr. Igor Balan (Master degree in Law, Odessa National Law Academy (Ukraine)), businessman (has several businesses and companies in Ukraine). The Owner and the teacher of Miniboss Dublin Business School (Ireland) – the Franchise branch of The International Miniboss Business School. He is opening in Dublin (Ireland) innovative school with an exclusive program and interactive methods of business education for children from 6 years old. MINIBOSS DUBLIN BUSINESS SCHOOL will implement educational learning objectives according to 8Q, Bloom’s Taxonomy, TRIZ, and other effective methods of mindset development for children in Ireland.
Miss.Xinran Wang
Miss.Xinran Wang studied Education Management and Finance at the University of Jinan and got her bachelor’s degree in June 2018. From 2020 to present, she is a Master student in Education Management at the University of Malaya.
Mr. Richard Cotterill
Mr. Richard Cotterill is a lecturer in Management at the University of York’s International Pathway College. He is in the final stages of completing his doctorate in education, which evaluates the use of visual metaphors in lectures as a way of unlocking meaning. Other research interests include how to strengthen the validity of group assessments and the use of online discussion forums. Richard is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and holder of the University of York Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award.
