Highlighted Speaker
Prof Dr. Leonid Tutov
Professor, Head of the Department of Philosophy and Methodology of Economics,
Faculty of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University. From 2013 (current position)
Vice-Dean, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Economics. From 2008 till 2014
Founder and editor-in-chief of the journal "Scientific Research of the Faculty of Economics. Electronic magazine".
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Z. Sonkaya
Zeynep Z. Sonkaya is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at Ankara University. She received her PhD in Linguistics from Hacettepe University, 2018 and was awarded a TÜBİTAK scholarship to conduct part of her doctoral research in the United States. Her academic career has been recognized with several TÜBİTAK awards for excellence in research. She specializes in applied linguistics, second language acquisition, and Turkish as a foreign language, with a particular interest in the integration of digital tools into language teaching. At Ankara University, she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in linguistics and language pedagogy, while also supervising research in these areas. She has presented at numerous international conferences and has published widely on issues related to language education, sociolinguistics, and academic writing. Beyond her research, she is engaged in projects promoting intercultural communication and the innovative use of educational technologies in language classrooms.
Dr. Steven Killings
Dr. Steven Killings, Director of Humanities and Philosophy Programs, University of Maryland Global Campus since 2017 earned his doctorate in Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto in 2003 and has been working in the field of Digital Humanities and Medieval Studies for more than 25 years.
Rev. Thowui Ching Marma
Rev. Thowui Ching Marma is an undergraduate student in his third year at the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, specializing in Philosophy and Buddhist Social Work. Originally from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, he belongs to an Indigenous community with its own distinct language, traditions, and culture, setting him apart from the Bengali majority. Deeply committed to education, faith, and cultural values, he aspires to contribute to global dialogues that promote equality, human rights, and sustainable peace. Rev. Thowui has already participated in volunteer programs and academic conferences, reflecting his dedication to service and social change. With a long-term goal of pursuing a master’s degree and PhD abroad, he envisions working with NGOs or international organizations to advance human welfare worldwide.
Dr Uma Rani A Rethina Velu
Dr Uma Rani A Rethina Velu holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) from University Putra Malaysia, Master’s Degree and PhD in Linguistics, University of Malaya. Has Teacher Trainer Certificate from Regional Educational Language
Centre, Singapore and ‘Multi-camera Television Production’ Certificate from Deutshe Welle, Berlin, Germany. Experience teaching students and trained teachers in creative ESL. Worked with Technology Division Malaysia as TV producer producing educational talk shows and children’s programmes. Lectured in Malaysian private and public universities. Awarded ‘Master Teacher Award’ for excellence in teaching, and ‘Innovative Creative Teacher’s Award’ for her ‘Walking Dictionaries Programme’ in Malaysia also recognised by British Council. She has several publications and conference proceedings with interest in media and linguistics apart from publication works in writing creative stories for children. Presently, lives in Italy with interest in singing, yoga, voluntarily helping children to read while contributing continuously to academic interest.
Past Speakers
Prof. Dr. Rona Bušljeta Kardum
PhD is an Assistant Professor at University of Zagreb, Faculty of Croatian Studies, Department of Educational Sciences. At present, she leads the lifelong learning program focused on the development of teaching competencies. She presented different papers at many scientific conferences in Croatia and abroad and published scientific articles in domestic and international journals, most of which in the field of educational sciences. She is the co-author of three school textbooks which are currently used in primary and secondary schools and the co-author of a university handbook. During her professional career she spent some research time at Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg, Germany and Georg-Eckert-Institut für Internationale Schulbuchforschung, Germany. Her research interest includes educational theories, lifelong education, teaching methodology, curriculum, and all aspects of developing and researching textbooks.
Prof. Dr. Antonia Ordulj
Antonia Ordulj holds a PhD in Glottodidactics. In February 2021 she was appointed Assistant Professor at the Centre for Croatian Language Learning, Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb. Her main research interests include acquisition of Croatian as first and second or foreign language (vocabulary learning strategies, foreign language anxiety, collocations, corpus analysis, writing, reading, and listening in foreign language etc.).
Prof. Dr. Monika Komušanac
Monika Komušanac is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, in the Department of Demography and Croatian Emigration. She specializes in general and applied demography, as well as spatial and regional development in the Republic of Croatia, with a particular research focus on contemporary migrations within Croatia and the Croatian ethnic space. She is the leader of several research projects addressing Croatia's demographic challenges and the impact of demography on public national systems.
Prof Dr. Ledys Hernández Chacón
Doctor of Humanistic Studies with an educational focus. Psychologist by profession, with a master's degree in Educational Sciences and a diploma in neurolearning. Professional background of 15 years of experience in university teaching. Researcher with 21 published works including books, chapters and high-impact articles. Lecturer and speaker at national and international events. Member of several research associations and networks. Qualities for organizational teamwork, organizational leadership and management of high-level academic groups. Organizational performance in senior educational management positions as dean and vice-rector. Social and environmental responsibility and positive aptitudes for learning new skills.
Dr. Suzan Al-dababsa
Dr. Suzan Al-dababsa, a lecturer at the University of Jordan in philosophy, logic, and philosophy of science, holds a BA, MA, and PhD in philosophy with honors, specializing in the philosophy of science, specifically the principle of causality. She has published numerous scientific papers on the philosophy of science and philosophy in general.
Dr. Mohammad Altaf Hossain
Dr. Mohammad Altaf Hossain is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Geary Institute for Public Policy, University College Dublin, Ireland. His current project, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), investigates the housing precarity experienced by Bangladeshi migrants living in Dublin. Prior to his postdoctoral position, he taught anthropology at the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, his home country. He was awarded the John & Pat Hume scholarship for his doctoral studies in anthropology at Maynooth University in Ireland. He completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in anthropology at Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. His research interests encompass housing precarity, migration, public policy, and disaster vulnerability.
Dr. Sonia Mairos Ferreira
Keynote Speaker
Currently serving as a PME (Research Specialist) at UNICEF Lesotho, she brings over 20 years of experience as an accomplished Assistant Professor and researcher
Empowering Voices, Building Futures: UNICEF Lesotho's Journey for Gender Equality and Inclusive Growth
Her expertise lies in assisting populations affected by crises, disasters, and/or conflicts. She has a strong background in capacity building, training, and applying anthropology to humanitarian contexts. Her work has spanned various nations, including, among others, Lesotho, Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ukraine. With a Ph.D. in Permanent Education and Adult Training, complemented by degrees in Educational and Psychological Sciences, she has also pursued postgraduate studies in crucial areas such as Gender Equality, Human Rights, and Crisis Intervention.
Dr. S. Krishna
Analytical English Professor with outstanding analysis, critical thinking, and writing skills. Anchored in Strong philosophy of classical teaching and knowledge of various methods to excite students about literature, language, and communications Area of Specialization and Interest: Cultural Studies, Indigenous Literature Feminist Writings, ELT, Eco Criticism, Personality Development, Media and Film Studies.
Prof. Ricky Munyaradzi Mukonza
Prof Ricky Munyaradzi Mukonza is an Associate Prof in the Department of Public Management and the current Academic Manager in the Faculty of Humanities, Polokwane Campus at Tshwane
University in South Africa. He is a member of the South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM); his areas of interest in research include E-government, Intergovernmental Relations, Public Financial Management, Local Government, Public Policy,
Migration, Public Administration and Governance. Prof Mukonza has successfully supervised over 80 Master’s students and over 10 Doctoral students. He also has attended and presented academic papers at both national and international conferences. He has presented papers at Public Administration conferences. His publications include numerous conference proceedings, over to 60 journal articles in peer reviewed journals and 3 book chapters. In addition, Ricky has been appointed a reviewer by five local journals and seven international ones. He has received numerous awards from his University for his research work. Currently he has been nominated for the TW Kambule-
NSTF Researcher Award ( a South African national research award). Ricky’s views on governance and politics are sought out by many media houses.
Tatiana Bolshova
Tatiana Bolshova,Final year PhD Student at Aston University, UK.
She is PhD research area is International commercial law, particularly how business laws in French-speaking African countries can be changed to open access to finance for smallholders. Research interests include the application of soft and hard law norms in international commercial law and concepts of path dependency and legal evolution.
George Gabedava
George Gabedava is a Associate Professor and Deputy Rector for Academic Affiars at the Batumi Navigation Teaching University (Georgia) with eigth of experience. Holding a PhD in Business Administration from Georgian Teachnical University, He specializes in Management; Maritime Transport Management and Economics. Mr. George is an Expert in Accreditation of Educational Programs of Higher Educational Institutions.
Isabel Epistelomogi
Isabel Epistelomogi is a USC student studying Computer Science and Business. She is the VP of Education Research & Analytics at the Institute for Youth in Policy. She is the first and corresponding author of a study exploring the efficacy of discourse and was an invited speaker at College Board events. Her research interests include civics, polarization, media, and AI.
Maryam Zoweil
Maryam Zoweil is a freshman at UT Austin studying Business Honors. She serves as the Director of Education Data Analytics at the Institute for Youth in Policy. She is the secondary author of a study exploring the efficacy of discourse in civics curriculum and has been featured in national civics events. She is interested in civics education and depolarization.
Mr. Razique Anwar
Razique Anwar, a final-year Ph.D. Scholar in Economics and Public Policy at Indian Institute of Management Kashipur, India. Before enrolling in the doctoral program, he completed my MBA and MA in Economics. His areas of research interest include Monetary economics, Developmental economics, and public policy. He has two publications in ABDC-indexed journals.