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Prof. Sebastian Speiser

Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart, Germany

Sebastian Speiser is a Professor of Computer Science at HFT Stuttgart, Germany, and serves as the Study Dean for the Bachelor programme in AR/VR-Engineering. His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly its applications in education, where he aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and effective learning methodologies. Beyond academia, Sebastian brings extensive experience in operational and leadership roles across industry, specializing in AI and Data Analytics.

Speech Title: AI-assisted Grading of Student Answers

Abstract: Large language models (LLMs) offer new possibilities for automating the grading of short-answer questions in higher education. This talk presents findings from two studies evaluating the performance of OpenAI’s GPT models on real-world exam data. We assess grading accuracy at both the answer and exam level, comparing model outputs to human assessments. Our results show that GPT-4o performs within the range of human graders and that the impact of LLM-human disagreement on final grades is modest—often comparable to variability between human evaluators. We discuss practical implications, including fairness and future directions for AI-assisted assessment.



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Prof. Antonio Cedillo-Hernandez

Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico

Antonio Cedillo holds a PhD degree in Communications and Electronics, obtained with honors. He as the recognition as a National Researcher Level 1 in Mexico. He has twelve years of experience in academia and research including a postdoctoral position. During his academic career, he has gained distinctions, such as the best evaluated professor at the undergraduate and master’s levels, best professor of generation, member of the circle of outstanding professors and national award as inspiring professor. In addition, he has been auditor leader in the security review of informatic systems for the gubernatorial elections in Mexico. He has non-academic work experience of 7 years in the Mexican Federal Government, being his last position as Deputy Director of IT in the Ministry of the Interior, managing projects of high technological and political impact. He holds the international credential PMP® No. 1411515, and the SCRUM®. ITIL® and Security+ certifications. He was winner of the best presentation award in ICETC'23 and ICETC'24.

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Prof. Kenzi Watanabe

Hiroshima University, Japan

Kenzi Watanabe received the B.Sc. and the M.Sc. degree in Physics from Saga University, Japan, in 1987 and 1989, respectively. He received the Ph.D. degree in engineering from Saga University in 1998. From 1989 to 1993, he was a research associate at Saga University. From 1993 to 1999, he was a lecturer and an associate professor at Wakayama University, Japan. From 1999 to 2012, he was an associate professor and a professor at Saga University. From 2012 to 2024, he was a professor at Hiroshima University, Japan. He is presently a professor and a vice president at Fukuyama City University, Japan, since April 2025. His research interests are development of educational systems, advanced Internet technologies and applications and so on.

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Prof. Daniel Otto

European University for Innovation and Perspective, Germany

Prof. Dr Daniel Otto is a habilitated scholar in media didactics and serves as a Professor of E-Learning and Digital Teaching at the European University for Innovation and Perspective (EHiP). His academic career includes appointments as Professor at the Hamburg Distance Learning University of Applied Sciences and Interim Professor at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg.
He has made significant contributions to the field of online and distance education through his leadership in various research projects and his extensive publications. His work has primarily focused on trends and success factors in online and distance learning, with a particular emphasis on the transformative potential of Open Educational Resources (OER) to foster equitable and inclusive access to education.
His current research explores the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for instructional design in distance education, with a specific focus on its impact on teaching and learning practices.

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Prof. Michele Baldassarre

Università degli studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Italy

Michele Baldassarre is full professor at the Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, and Communication at the University of Bari "Aldo Moro," where he teaches Educational Research and Teaching Methodology, Theories and Methods of Programming and Evaluation, and Design and Evaluation of Educational Systems. He directs the Laboratory of Experimental Pedagogy and Multimedia at the University of Bari and is the President of the Master's Degree Course in Primary Education Sciences (five-year program).
He is the coordinator of the PhD program in Leadership, Empowerment, and Digital Innovation in Education and Learning (LEDIEL). His areas of interest include the integration of technology in schools and higher education, media education, teacher training, design and evaluation of educational systems, and e-learning. He is a founding member of the Italian Society for Research on Media Education.

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Prof. Matthias Wölfel

University of Applied Sciences Karlsruhe, Germany

Matthias Wölfel is a professor of Intuitive and Perceptive User Interfaces at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences in Germany. He is the head of the Institute for Intelligent Interaction and Immersive Experience and is also affiliated with the Faculty of Business, Economics, and Social Sciences at the University of Hohenheim. His research interests include interaction design, human-computer interaction, human-computer-human interaction, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, digital culture, and technology-enhanced learning. Outside of academia, Wölfel contributes to global media art exhibitions and is the founder and CEO of ColorfulBit, an award-winning studio that specializes in new media and innovative technologies. Wölfel has received numerous awards for excellence in teaching and innovation, including "Professor of the Year" in 2017, the "HKA Teaching Award" in 2024, and the "IKT Innovativ Award" in 2013.

Speech Title: Virtual Reality Campus: Learning and Teaching as a Social Experience in Immersive Environments

Abstract: Immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR) have evolved from isolated, single-user experiences into dynamic, multi-user environments, transforming how we interact, collaborate, teach, and learn. These tools offer new possibilities for social interaction, enabling users to experience a profound sense of presence and connection through avatars. In education, this shift is particularly powerful: VR enables learners to engage in hands-on, experiential learning, fostering skills through direct experimentation and real-world scenarios.
At Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, we have been exploring this potential since 2021 through our custom-built Virtual Reality Campus. This platform enables up to 60 students to participate in lectures and collaborative activities remotely using VR headsets to create a shared, immersive learning environment. This talk will explore how immersive learning can break down physical and social barriers, enhancing accessibility and redefining the social fabric of education to transform learning into a collaborative, interactive, and deeply engaging experience.

 



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Prof. Jesús Enrique Beltrán Virgüez

Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios, Colombia

Jesús Enrique Beltrán Virgüez is a Business Administrator with a Master’s degree in Contemporary Philosophy and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Philosophy at the National University of Distance Education (UNED) in Spain. He serves as a research professor at the Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios (UNIMINUTO-Colombia). With over 14 years of experience in university teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, his academic work focuses on higher education, organizational management, Hermeneutic Phenomenology, and Critical Theory. He is a member of the Research Core in Phenomenology of Brazil and the research groups GEDESE and Ereignis in Colombia. His research includes topics such as leadership, innovation, and artificial intelligence in higher education. Additionally, he has explored subjects such as aesthetics, affectivity, and organizational phenomena from phenomenological and hermeneutic approaches.

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Prof. Clara Karjo

Bina Nusantara University, Indonesia

Prof. Dr. Clara Herlina Karjo obtained her extensive education in English language teaching and applied linguistics from Indonesian Catholic University of Atmajaya, Jakarta. She joined Bina Nusantara University in 2002. She has been teaching several linguistics related subjects such as English Phonology, Sociolinguistics, Pragmatics and Translation.
Doing research and writing research papers have been Dr. Clara’s passion for quite a long time. She has produced a lot of research papers in the area of English linguistics and applied linguistics. Some of her topics of research include machine translation, language acquisition, critical discourse analysis and digital language learning. Besides, Dr. Clara also presents her research papers in various conferences and seminars around Indonesia and abroad.

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Prof. Pushp Lata

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, India

Prof. Pushp Lata, a distinguished academic affiliated with the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani- Pilani Campus since 1994. In her illustrious career of 30 years she has held various teaching and administrative positions. Her broad areas of interest include English Language Teaching, Translanguaging and Multimodality, Gender and Culture in Education, Language and Migration, and Critical Pedagogies. Prof. Lata has authored sixteen seminal books and disseminated her scholarly insights through 24 research papers in Scopus-indexed and peer-reviewed international journals, along with 25 book chapters and good number of papers in esteemed national journals. She serves as a reviewer for several national and international journals. Prof. Lata is a passionate teacher and is known for her interactive and engaging pedagogy. Additionally, she has conducted over 90 workshops and training programs catering to students, educators, and corporate professionals, covering diverse topics such as Effective Communication, Managerial Communication, Innovative Pedagogy, Academic Writing, Soft Skills, Group Discussions, and Job Interviews, thereby enriching academic and professional domains alike

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Assoc. Prof. Mohd Elmagzoub Eltahir

Ajman University, United Arab Emirates

Dr. Mohd Elmagzoub Eltahir is the Head of the Education Department and an Associate Professor of Educational Technology at the College of Humanities and Sciences, Ajman University, UAE. His expansive research portfolio encompasses cutting-edge areas such as Artificial Intelligence in Education, e-Learning, Educational Technology, Blended Learning, and Multimedia in Education.
Dr. Eltahir is widely recognized for his impactful contributions to the field, with a substantial body of work presented at prestigious international conferences and published in high-ranking, peer-reviewed scientific journals. In addition to his academic achievements, he brings extensive consultancy expertise, having successfully implemented technology-driven educational solutions across schools in the UAE.
In 2009, Dr. Eltahir was honored with the Sharjah Award for Excellence in Education, a testament to his dedication, innovation, and leadership in advancing modern educational practices. His unwavering commitment to integrating technology into education continues to inspire and shape the future of learning.

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Assoc. Prof. Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Hujailan

King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

M Alhojailan completed his doctorate under the supervision of professor Bernd Stahl at the university of DMU after taking up his academic position as a lecturer at King Saud University 2006. Mohammed awarded best paper in SIC 2012, London, Brunel University. He listed in distinction board in Saudi Cultural Bureau in London in 2012 and 2013 in Saudi Cultural Bureau in London, received distinguished PhD student award from Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, Saudi ambassador at UK. He is now consultant in educational technology projects, especially in eLearning design.
His worked in the themes of eLearning management design and evaluation includes e-Content management, e-training, electronic of Community of inquiry (Col), blended design with Instructional models, Creative and critical thinking themes with content are his interest. He focused in Learner’s attitude and developing skills due technology, especially in K-12 school. Further, align practicing with theories are the main crave.

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Assoc. Prof. Farrah Dina Yusof

Universiti Malaya, Malaysia

Farrah Dina is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. She earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instructional Technology and Human Computer Interaction from Iowa State University. She was the former Director of ADEC, the university’s centre for managing professional development programs for its academics, as well as spearheading various e-learning initiatives, including MOOCs and microcredentials.
Dr. Farrah is a scholar-researcher-practitioner specialising in instructional design and development, professional development, the use of educational technologies for effective learning, online, experiential, and service-learning.
Her work has appeared in a number of high-impact journals. She received numerous awards, locally and internationally, including the Young Researcher Award, the Outstanding Woman in Humanities and Social Sciences Award, and the Malaysian Minister of Education's Special Award (AKRI) in teaching and learning, in addition to various research-based educational innovation awards.

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Assoc. Prof. Habil. Ana-Maria Drăgulinescu

Politehnica Bucharest, Romania

Assoc. Prof. Habil. Ana-Maria Drăgulinescu is an IEEE member and has a graduate diploma in Telecommunications Systems and Technologies (2014), Public Innovation and Smart City Strategies (2021) and a PhD in Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology (2022). She completed postgraduate courses on digital tools in the innovative pedagogical approach for teaching (2023) and two master programs in Multimedia Technologies for Content Production and Communications and Counselling and Leadership in Education and Professional Development, respectively. She was a postdoc with the I3S/CNRS laboratory, Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis, France, in the field of combinatorial optimization algorithms based on machine learning techniques for resource allocation in multimedia communication networks (2022). She holds one patent, authored more than 60 papers (15 in Q1-Q2 journals) with an H-index of 14, coordinates the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) research, development and education direction in Vodafone Innovation Hub and leads four national projects in the AIoT field.

Speech Title: Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) and Academic Burnout: Digital Technologies for Increasing Student Engagement in Learning Activities and Reducing Burnout

Abstract: This invited talk presents original research on the integration of symbiotical AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) technologies in higher education, focusing on how students perceive, adopt, and benefit from these tools in their academic lives. The study introduces a novel framework for defining AIoT in education, covering over 20 practical functionalities, from academic planning to emotional well-being support.
Using a mixed-methods design—including a control group, longitudinal tracking, both surveys and physiological data analysis—the research presented through this lecture examines how AIoT usage correlates with reduced burnout, improved sleep, time management, and academic productivity. Composite indicators such as AIoT Effectiveness and Accessibility were developed to quantify students’ experiences, while robust data processing ensured replicability and analytical rigor. By linking AIoT adoption to both cognitive and affective outcomes, this lecture opens new avenues for empirical research and educational innovation.



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Assoc. Prof. Serpi̇l Teki̇r

Middle East Technical University, Turkey

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serpil Tekir is a faculty member at Middle East Technical University (METU), Türkiye, specializing in curriculum development, educational technologies, and English language teaching. With extensive experience in language education, instructional design, and AI-integrated teaching models, her research focuses on innovative pedagogical approaches that enhance student engagement, self-regulated learning, and 21st-century skills. She has conducted numerous national and international research projects, including studies on flipped learning, AI-assisted writing tools, and inclusive support services for disadvantaged students in higher education. Dr. Tekir is also actively involved in the design of ESL coursebooks aligned with Türkiye’s national curriculum reforms, blending communicative and competency-based teaching models. Beyond her academic work, she mentors pre-service teachers and contributes to policy discussions on digital transformation in education. Her current projects explore the pedagogical implications of generative AI tools in language learning. Dr. Tekir regularly presents at international conferences and serves as a reviewer for peer-reviewed journals.

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Dr. Nashwa Ismail

Imperial College London, UK

Dr. Ismail is an academic researcher at Imperial College London, UK. She holds an MSc and a PhD in Education from the Southampton Education School and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). She is currently conducting academic research on the role of Generative AI (GenAI) in teaching and learning, exploring how AI can inform pedagogical design and support academic practices. Her expertise lies in bridging the gap between technology and pedagogy in online learning environments, with a focus on innovative approaches such as Games-Based Learning (GBL). Recognizing the growing need to develop academic capabilities in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Dr. Ismail has also led and researched a series of workshops in the Global South, equipping academics with the skills and knowledge to embed AI effectively in teaching and research practices.

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