Pubdate：2024.12.12. 17:17 Author：editorSource：Beijing Normal University
Smart Learning Institute of Beijing Normal University
The Smart Learning Institute (SLI) of Beijing Normal University was established in 2015 in partnership with a global educational technology company, Elernity, a subsidiary of NetDragon. SLI focuses on research and training to harness the power of technologies to create smart learning environments and platforms that support the diverse, personalized and differentiated needs of learners throughout their lives. This aligns closely with the mission of Net Dragon’s Edmodo Academy which aims to co-create and share high quality digital educational resources for all through ‘connection and cooperation’. By creating synergies with Net Dragon’s Future Lab platform, its global leadership in integrating gamification in teaching-learning and expertise in developing AI tools, SLI works to strengthen its research and innovation impact for shaping the future of education. SLI has established itself as the world’s leading institute dedicated to promoting smart learning for transforming education and training. Over the years, it has defined and highlighted the scope of smart learning and proposed a framework: i) through technology enabled teaching and learning; ii) by creating digital environments that enable smart learning and iii) that promote data driven governance and policy for smart learning at the national, regional and global levels. The fundamental principles underpinning these initiatives are i) equity and inclusion to ensure that no one is left behind; ii) a culture of continuous improvement for high quality teaching and learning and iii) multi-sector collaborations and global partnerships for enhanced impact.
* Sorted in alphabetical order
Founder President and CEO
Asia e University (AeU)
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ahmed Ansary, is a Malaysian academic entrepreneur. He is the Founder President and presently the Group Managing Director of the Asia e Learning Pvt Ltd the license holder of Asia e University (AeU), a collaborative multinational university initiated by the Asian Cooperative Dialogue. Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ansary has served in numerous national and international level committees. Internationally, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ansary was a member of UNESCO Kornberg 21st Century Visionaries for Higher Education and served as UNESCO Technical Consultant, specifically online education. He has represented Malaysia as a member of Board of Trustees ASEAN University Network, acted as International e learning consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, Project Co-Director for Total e learning Solution, Ministry of Higher Education, Saudi Arabia, and has served as Honorary Advisor for Asia under the Commonwealth of Learning. At the national level he has served as Special Science Officer at the Science Advisor Office, Prime Minister’s Department. He also served as member of Task Force National Technology Mapping Project, National Innovation Systems and Headed the Pharmaceutical Secretariat at Malaysian Industry Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) in Prime Ministers’ Department.
Executive president, Moroccan International Center for Artificial Intelligence (MICAI)
Dr. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni is the executive president of the Moroccan International Center for Artificial Intelligence (MICAI) known as the Ai movement, within Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). She is also an outstanding Full Professor at Sorbonne University. She is a worldly expert in Distributed Artificial Intelligence and Multi-Agent Systems. She is internationally recognized for her work in this field and was elected as the General Chair of the best international conference.Dr. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni is a member of the UNESCO World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST). She is interested in the ethical issues of new scientific and technological research fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Internet of Things, Robotics, etc. She is passionate about social issues related to ethics, gender, inclusion, and social justice. She is nominated for the Berkeley World Business Analytics Awards, in the category “Woman of the Year” – 2021 for the African continent.
Chair of the Governing Board of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies and Education (IITE) Chair Professor at Smart Learning Institute of Beijing Normal University
Prof. Asha S. Kanwar, Chair of the Governing Board of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies and Education (IITE), the Chair Professor at Smart Learning Institute of Beijing Normal University and the Chair of the Advisory Committee of the WHO Academy, is one of the worlds leading advocates of learning for sustainable development. Prof. Kanwawr was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth of Learning for over 11 years. Throughout a career spanning over 35 years, she has made outstanding contributions in the areas of teaching, research and international development. Prof. Kanwar was a senior consultant in open and distance learning at UNESCO’s Regional Office for Education in Africa (BREDA). She has also served as Director, School of Humanities and as Pro-Vice Chancellor at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in New Delhi, India. She was a Fulbright Fellow for post-doctoral research at Iowa State University in the US, where she was later invited to teach. Prof. Kanwar won several international awards, including the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Prize of Excellence, and the Meritorious Service Award for outstanding contributions in open and distance education from the Asian Association of Open Universities. She has been conferred nine honorary doctorates from Universities in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.
Vice Chancellor Open University of Kenya
Prof. Elijah I. Omwenga currently serve as the Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Kenya. He is a well-known scholar in the field of educational technology and computer science. with rich experience in academia and education management, and has made in-depth research and contributions to distance education and technology enhancement learning. He is an awardee of outstanding Achiever’s Certificate of the University of Nairobi. Professor Omwenga has previously served in several other boards including the Kenya ICT Authority and ChildFund International. He is an international consultant on ICT integration in corporate services. Professor Omwenga is a Commonwealth and VLIR Scholar. He is also a distinguished Advantage Corporate Governance Training Alumni of South Africa.
Director, UNESCO Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC)
Francesc Pedró currently serve as the Director of the UNESCO Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC). He joined UNESCO’s education sector in Paris (France) in 2010, where he led the team of education policy, providing technical assistance to UNESCO Member States by reviewing their normative frameworks and education policies upon request to ensure alignment with SDG 4-Education 2030, and contributing to knowledge dissemination through international comparative analyses. Before join IESALC, he worked at the OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI). In his capacity as senior policy analyst, responsible for OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) and the New Millennium Learners Project. He was also in charge of the reviews of educational R&D in OECD countries and of a project on Systemic Innovation in Education. Dr. Pedró was professor of comparative education and public policies at the Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona) and academic director of its program for educational quality. He also chaired the university entrance examinations system in Catalonia, pro-vice chancellor of the Open University of Catalonia (Barcelona). Francesc (Barcelona, 1960) got his MEd degree from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a PhD in Comparative Education from UNED (Madrid). Later he did a postdoc in Comparative Public Policy at the University of London Institute of Education.
Director, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Secretariat
Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim is currently the Director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Secretariat. She is also an Honourary Fellow at MASA Institute, Senior Advisor at Edvolution, and Board Member of both Teach for Malaysia Foundation and Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka. Previously, Datuk Habibah was the Director General of Education Malaysia, serving the Ministry of Education Malaysia for over 34 years until her retirement on April 6, 2021. Her career began as a secondary school teacher, and she has held various significant positions including Head of the Delivery Management Office, Executive Director of the Education Performance and Delivery Unit, Director of the Educational Planning and Research Division, and Deputy Director General of Education (Policy and Curriculum). She has extensive experience in policy development, macro planning, program implementation, and evaluation. Datuk Habibah played a key role in developing the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, the Education Development Master Plan 2006-2010, and the Education Development 2001-2010 .
President Open University of Mauritius
Prof. Kavirai Sukon is an outstanding education and management scholar in Mauritius and is currently the president of the Open University of Mauritius. He hasextensive experience in developing effective strategies and operational plans, proven track record of successful management of large teams. As the president of the Open University of Mauritius, Prof. Sukon is committed to promoting the development of online education and distance learning. During his tenure, he improved the educational quality and international reputation of the university by introducing modern educational technologies and innovative teaching methods. He also actively participated in the formulation and implementation of education policies and promoted the reform and development of the education system in Mauritius.
Vice Chancellor University of Goroka
Prof. Dr. Komhiol Teng Waninga currently serve as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Goroka. He used to be the Head of Department in the Education Faculty of Curriculum and Teaching at University of Goroka. His research focuses on how to use information technology to improve the quality and accessibility of education. He has published a number of academic papers and research reports in the fields of education technology, online learning, virtual learning environment and education management, which has had a far-reaching impact on educational practice. His research not only focuses on the application of technology, but also focuses on the improvement of educational policies and management, providing valuable insights for the development of the education system.
Chancellor, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU)
Dr. Mansoor Al Awar is the Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) and has played a pivotal role in its establishment and growth. Under his guidance, HBMSU has become a leader in the adoption of smart learning solutions, offering a range of programs and courses designed to provide flexible, accessible, and high-quality education. Dr. Alawar is a prominent figure in the field of education and technology, particularly in the Arab world. He has been involved in numerous initiatives aimed at promoting education and knowledge sharing across the region. Additionally, he has been a key advocate for the integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education, emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning and continuous professional development.His contributions to the field have been recognized both regionally and internationally. Dr. Alawar is frequently invited to speak at conferences and forums on topics related to smart learning, educational innovation, and the future of education.
Director of ICT Department Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO)
Mohamed Jemni is Professor of Computer Science and Educational Technologies at the University of Tunis. He is the Director of ICT Department at The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) from October 2013. He has been the General Director of the Computing Center El Khawarizmi, the Internet services provider for the sector of higher education in Tunisia, from 2008 to 2013. At ALECSO, he is currently leading several projects related to the promotion of effective use of ICT in education in the Arab world. He produced two patents and published more than 300 papers in international journals, conferences and books. He produced many studies for international organizations such as UNESCO and ITU. Prof. Jemni has been awarded the honorary distinction of Commander of the Order of the Tunisian Republic in May 2009 and the Order of Educational Merit in July 2007. Prof. Jemni is IEEE Senior member and member of the Executive board of IEEE Technical Committee on Learning Technology. He is co-editor of Springer Lecture Notes in educational Technology and member of the steering committee of G3ICT – United Nations, Global initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies. He has launched many initiatives to promote ICT accessibility in the Arab region including the project of WCAG2.0 translation to Arabic to promote accessibility of Arabic Web Content and the 2009 initiative for using ICT to develop Arab Sign Language.
Co-president of the ISTE/ASCD Board of Directors Director of innovation and technology, Dunham School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Ms. Nikole Blanchard is the director of innovation and technology for the Dunham School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and co-president of the ISTE/ASCD Board of Directors. She’s also the co-founder of the Private School Colloquium, and a board member for Baton Rouge’s Edcamp and Louisiana IT Symposium. A passionate digital innovator, Blanchard is a National Board Certified Teacher, Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Innovator, Apple Teacher, Swift Playground Teacher, Google Certified Trainer, PBS Learning Media Innovator and Microsoft Innovative Educator. A career highlight for Blanchard was sharing the stage with Apple CEO Tim Cook in 2018. She told her technology story, making history as the first non-Apple employee to speak during an Apple keynote. In 2003, Blanchard was part of a pilot program at Louisiana State University (LSU) where student teachers used laptops in the field. Blanchard was blown away by the way students’ needs could be met with technology. Pursuing this interest, she graduated from Louisiana State University with a master’s in educational technology.
Director of UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA)
Dr. Quentin Wodon is Director of UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA). Previously, he worked at the World Bank, including as Lead Economist, Lead Poverty Specialist, and manager of the unit on values and development. Before that, he taught with tenure at the University of Namur. He has also taught at Addis Ababa University, American University, and Georgetown University. A business engineering graduate, after an assignment in Asia as Laureate of a Prize, he worked in brand management for Procter & Gamble. He then shifted career to join a nonprofit working with the extreme poor. This led him to pursue a career in international development. Quentin holds four PhDs, has over 700 publications, and has worked on policy across sectors in over 60 countries. As part of his volunteer work, he has held multiple leadership positions with nonprofits. His research has been covered by leading news media globally.
Co-Dean, Smart Eduaction Institute of Beijing Normal University UNESCO Chair on AI in Education
Professor Ronghuai Huang is a Professor at Beijing Normal University (BNU). He currently serves as the Co-Dean of BNU’s Smart Learning Institute, the Director of the National Engineering Research Center of Cyberlearning and Intelligent Technology, and the Director of the Educational Informatization Strategy Research Base in Beijing, under the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. Additionally, he actively contributing himself to global affairs, who serves as the UNESCO Chair on Artificial Intelligence in Education and the Director of the UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education.Professor Huang has garnered significant recognition for his work in educational informatisation, artificial intelligence in education, smart learning environments, and technology-supported innovative teaching. His influential ideas have reached wide audiences through the publication of more than 300 academic papers and over 40 books, both domestically and internationally.
Director, UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE)
Dr. Tao Zhan currently serves as the director of UNESCO IITE. He has extensive experiences in mathematical research, education administration and ICT in education. He holds a Doctorate Degree in Science (1987) from Shandong University in China. After graduation he joined Shandong University and later became a research fellow supported by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, at the Albert Ludwigs University in Freiburg, Germany (1991 – 1992). Upon returning to Shandong University he was promoted to Professor of mathematics and afterwards the Vice President of the university. In 2000, Mr. Zhan took office as President of Shandong University. In 2008, he joined Jilin University (Changchun, China) where he held the position of President till 2011. Prior to joining UNESCO, he worked as Director-General of the Educational Management Information Center under the Ministry of Education in China (2011 – 2016). He was also Co-Chair of the Office of ICT in Education in the Ministry. Before join IITE, he served as member of the Governing Board of UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Education of Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) in India, member of the extended EFA (Education For All) Steering Committee which was responsible for drafting of the Incheon Declaration at the World Education Forum 2015 and Framework for Action “Education 2030”, and continued to be a member of the new Steering Committee of Education 2030 Agenda till 2016.
Secretary General, International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)
Ms. Torunn Gjelsvik is serving as the Secretary General of ICDE. Ms. Gjelsvik is an educational expert and leader with specialization in online, open and flexible education and technology enhanced learning. She has broad experience from distance and online education in Norway from various learning institutions at higher education level and with tertiary/adult education. Her fields of expertise include experience from online course design and content development, teaching and training of academic staff, concept development and project management. Gjelsvik has held several executive leadership positions in various educational institutions and organizations, including the national membership organization Flexible Education Norway. From 2015 to 2018 she was Head of Development at the ICDE Secretariat, and her international experience covers policy development, international networks, events and project management related to the global field of online, open and flexible education. She is a frequent speaker at international conferences and events related to the field.
President Wuhan University of Technology
President of Wuhan University of Technology; Chief Adviser to the Expert Advisory Committee on Education Digitization, MOE Professor Zongkai Yang currently serves as the President of Wuhan University of Technology. He previously held the position of President at Central China Normal University and Xidian University. He is the Chairman of the Expert Consultation Committee on Education Digitalization of the Ministry of Education, as well as the Chairman of the Guiding Committee for Higher Education Teaching Informatization and Teaching Method Innovation of the Ministry of Education. Additionally, he is the President of the China Educational Technology Association. He is also the Director of the National Engineering Research Center for Digital Learning and the National Engineering Research Center for Educational Big Data Application Technology. His long-term work involves fundamental theoretical research, scientific and technological innovation, and engineering practice in the field of deep integration of big data, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies with education. He has led one major project and one key project of the National Natural Science Foundation, and has won one Outstanding Award in National Teaching Achievement in Higher Education. Furthermore, he has received four first prizes for scientific and technological achievements at the provincial and ministerial levels.
