2025 UNESCO CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

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Pre- conference Workshop Facilitators

	Dr. Darla K. Deardorff is the chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competence at Stellenbosch University. In addition, she is a research fellow at Duke University and holds several other faculty appointments at universities around the world including in Japan, China, and Canada. She is also a former faculty member at Harvard University's Global Education Think Tank and Future of Learning Institute. Read more
	Werner de Wit, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Werner is the Senior Programme Manager of the Unit for Student Mobility at Stellenbosch University International, and the Operational Coordinator: UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competences. He is responsible for the UNESCO Chair operations and is the international liaison. He holds BComm & LLB Bachelor degrees, and an MPhil (Higher Education). His Masters Thesis topic was on the Development of students' Intercultural Competences through a study abroad experience. Read more
	Dr Heidi October, Stellenbosch University, South Africa Dr Heidi October serves on Stellenbosch University's Student Affairs senior management team as Deputy Director: Centre for Student Life and Learning and Head: Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development (FVZS Institute). She has extensive higher education experience spanning over 25 years and international higher education stakeholder relations benchmarking at more than 30 international universities. Read More
	Ms Nosipiwo Matiwane, Stellenbosch University, South Africa Ms Nosipiwo Matiwane is a Programme Coordinator at the FVZS Institute, leading the African Leadership portfolio and passionate about education as a tool to help young people become change agents in their communities. She holds a BA (Development & Environment) and Social Anthropology Hons (Cum Laude) and completing her master's degree in Social Anthropology at Stellenbosch University. Her research interests include Museum Studies (Visual and Discursive framings of anthropological exhibitions), Higher Education, and Black Feminist Praxis. Read More
	Dr. Jennice McCafferty, Missouri State University, United States Dr. Jennice McCafferty is an associate professor in the College of Education at Missouri State University and serves as the Dean's Fellow for Global Education. She earned her PhD in learning, teaching, and curriculum from the University of Missouri. Her work focuses on how values and narratives in K-12 education influence global understanding, peace, and sustainability. Dr. McCafferty collaborates with teachers involved in NGOs, associations, and public diplomacy efforts. She also coordinates Missouri State University's Global Education Lab and leads virtual exchanges for children and educators in the United States, Morocco, Libya, Tanzania, and South Africa.
	Ms Khairoonisa Foflonker, Stellenbosch University, South Africa Khairoonisa Foflonker has nearly 20 years' experience in the higher education and non-governmental sectors where she has honed her skills as a lecturer, facilitator, trainer and developer of materials for diversity, equity, inclusivity and intercultural communication interventions. She is deeply committed to equity, inclusive education and an intersectional approach to social justice, and has presented on various topics aligned to her area of interest, expertise, and passion. Read More
	Dr Jean Lee Farmer, Stellenbosch University, South Africa Dr Jean Lee Farmer grew up under Apartheid in a poverty-stricken area for Black people in the rich city of Cape Town. She completed her undergraduate studies and Honors at the University of the Western Cape, a university for Black students. She completed her MPhil in Intercultural Communication and PhD at Stellenbosch University – an institution she had not been allowed to study at during apartheid. Read More

Parallel Session Speakers:
	Dr Addamms Mututa, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Addamms Mututa is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Communication and Media, University of Johannesburg. He holds a joint PhD (Film Studies / African Literature) from the University of Tübingen, Germany, and the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He researches African cinema and literature, post-apartheid cultures, critical theory, and postcolonialism.
	Professor Joanne Hughes, Queen's University, Belfast Northern Ireland. Professor Joanne Hughes, MBE, FAcSS, UNESCO Chair Joanne Hughes is Professor of Education in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, and Director of the Centre for Shared Education in the School. She also holds a UNESCO Chair in education. Her main research interests are in the role of education in divided societies, and inter-group relations in conflict and post-conflict societies. Read more
	Dr Abderrahman Hassi, Al Akhawayn University, Morocco Abderrahman Hassi holds a Ph.D. from the University of Laval, Canada which was about a cross-cultural study among four countries, namely Canada, Germany, Morocco and Singapore. He is an Associate Professor of Management at Al Akhawayn University, Morocco. He previously taught at several higher education institutions in Canada. He has also served as a visiting professor of Management in Germany, Senegal and Spain. Read More
	Prof Emnet Tadesse Woldegiorgis, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Emnet Tadesse Woldegiorgis is a Professor and Director at the Ali Mazrui Center for Higher Education Studies (AMCHES), University of Johannesburg. He holds a PhD from the University of Bayreuth, Germany, where he also worked as a researcher between 2015 and 2019. Emnet holds a joint Master's Degree in Higher Education Studies from Oslo University (Norway), Tampere University (Finland), and Aveiro University (Portugal). Read More
	Dr Norbert Ngowi, Mzumbe University, Tanzania Norbert Ngowi is a distinguished expert in environment and natural resources management. Dr. Ngowi serves as the Head of the Department of Environment and Sustainable Development at Mzumbe University, is a Senior Lecturer, and sits on the board of the Institute of Development Studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Assessment and Management with a focus on Ecosystem Services and Livelihoods from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Read More
	Sara Gregson, Antioch University, USA - Currently living in Saudi Arabia Sara Gregson has been an educator in international schools for over a decade. She has experienced life as an expatriate across multiple countries and continents. She served as the Service Learning Coordinator at the International School of Kigali while living in Rwanda for three years and focused on building opportunities for ethical intercultural engagement. She is deeply interested in critical approaches to global citizenship education within international schools and believes in building sustainable and reciprocal community partnerships. Sara is a doctoral candidate at Antioch University with a specialization in Critical Pedagogy. Her research focuses on how expatriate educators can build intercultural competence to counter Western imperialism in transnational contexts.
	Dr. Bernard Kitheka, Kenyan-born Scholar, Missouri State University, USA Dr. Bernard Kitheka is a Kenyan-born scholar specializing in sustainable tourism, urban regeneration, and community development. He serves as an Associate Professor in the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability at Missouri State University. Dr. Kitheka's academic journey includes master's and doctoral degrees earned in the United States. His research interests encompass sustainable tourism, ecotourism, urban sustainability, and the human dimensions of parks and recreation. Read More
	Ms Philina Wittke, University of the Free State, South Africa Philina has been working in development cooperation contexts for the last ten years. Between 2013-2017, she was the director of the DAAD Information Center in Johannesburg, South Africa, for Southern Africa. In that capacity, she promoted international student and research exchange as well as funding opportunities for students to study in South Africa, Africa and Germany. Read More
	Mr Leolyn Jackson, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein, South Africa Leolyn Jackson, former Senior Director of the Centre for Global Engagement, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein
	Ms Chevon Slambee, University of Free State, South Africa Chevon Slambee has been working in the higher education sector since May 2004. She first started her career in the Faculty of Education at the University of Fort Hare, where she was a key stakeholder in the accreditation of the master's by dissertation qualification. Chevon holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree with majors in Psychology and Industrial Sociology from Rhodes University and an Honours degree in Sociology (cum laude) from the University of the Free State. She currently occupies the position of Chief Officer at the University of the Free State, responsible for Virtual Engagement and Select Strategic Projects and is responsible for the project management of the iKudu project which is an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education(CBHE) project. The iKudu project focuses on transforming curricular through internationalization and virtual exchanges. Through this portfolio, she aims to highlight the importance of internationalisation in enhancing the quality and societal relevance of research and education.
	Prof Ntsoaki Malebo, Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa Prof Ntsoaki Malebo holds a PhD in microbiology and a postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education appointed as the Senior Director at the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching responsible for overseeing the units responsible for academic staff, and student development, eLearning and educational technologies including the disability unit at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT). She is the institutional lead for the Siyaphumelela student success project at the CUT. She previously coordinated the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa Academic Development Leaders Special Interest Group. She coordinates the iKudu Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project, which creates virtual international exchange opportunities for staff and students. She serves as a reviewer for international journals and NRF funding panels. She supervises students at Masters and Doctoral levels and has published in peer-reviewed journals.
	Dr. Divinia Jithoo, Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa Dr. Divinia Jithoo is a Specialist in International Education at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). She has experience in higher education internationalisation with a keen focus on internationalisation of the curriculum. She has developed expertise in International Virtual Engagement (IVE), specifically, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) as a approach to inclusive internationalisation. She also serves as the Co-Chair for the UNESCO Chair on intercultural competence, which is housed at Stellenbosch University. She holds a PhD in Higher Education Studies from the University of Western Cape. Her research has highlighted global structural dynamics of academic cross border collaboration.
	Ms Eva Haug, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands Eva Haug is Educational Advisor for Curriculum Internationalization and COIL/virtual exchange at the Amsterdam UAS. She's a senior lecturer of Intercultural Communication and research fellow at the University of the Free State, South Africa. Eva's is an elected member of the EAIE steering group that focuses on Teaching, Learning and Curriculum. As educational advisor she's responsible for professional development for IoC and COIL. and develops internationalization policy and strategies. Eva led the iKudu working group focused on COIL professional development. As senior lecturer Intercultural Communication she trains students and lecturers to work in multicultural and virtual teams. Eva is often invited by universities to support capacity building in IoC and COIL and has presented about these topics at international conferences such as NAFSA, EAIE, IVEC, AAC&U and others.
	Ms Marleen Henny, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS), The Netherlands Marleen Henny is an advisor on internationalisation at the R&D department of the Faculty of Digital Media & Creative Industries at AUAS. She has expertise in D&I, internationalisation, internationalisation of the curriculum including COIL/BIP/IatH, part of the coordination team at AUAS for the NEB Stewardship Lab and of the iKudu project. She is a work package lead in the European University Alliance, U!REKA SHIFT responsible for the work package: “inclusive & connected campus". With over 8 years working experience (teaching and head of internationalisation) in Morocco, 2 years at the research university: the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and now 4,5 years of experience at AUAS, she brings in over 14 years of experience in internationalisation.
	Prof Pia Stalder, University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland Pia Stalder is Professor for Intercultural Management at Bern University of Applied Sciences' Business School, Institute for Marketing & Global Management.
	Dr Malika Abentak, UIZ, Agadir, Morocco Malika Abentak has PhD in information and communication sciences. She is Head of the Cross-Disciplinary Teaching Department, based in the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of UIZ in Agadir.
	Nanga Désiré Coulibaly, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire Nanga Désiré Coulibaly is Deputy Director of the Department of Communication Sciences and teacher-researcher at the Information, Communication and Arts Training and Research Unit (UFRICA), Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
	Amani Charles Yokoli, NGO Agir, Côte d'Ivoire Amani Charles Yokoli is a consultant-trainer and teacher-researcher. Amani runs the NGO Agir, Innover pour le Développement Durable (AIDD) in Côte d'Ivoire.
	Dr Colette Djadeu Nguemedyam, Ecole Supérieure des Sciences et Techniques de l'Information et de la Communication (ESSTIC -University of Yaoundé II), Cameroon Colette Djadeu Nguemedyam holds a doctorate in Information and Communication Sciences. She is a lecturer at the Ecole Supérieure des Sciences et Techniques de l'Information et de la Communication (ESSTIC -University of Yaoundé II, Cameroon).
	Dr. Ruth T Nyamadzawo, Durban University of Technology, South Africa Dr. Ruth T Nyamadzawo is an post-doc researcher at Durban University of Technology International Centre of Nonviolence. Her research interests are human rights, children's and women's rights, restorative justice focusing on issues on corporal punishment, migration, and the inclusion of children and adults with disabilities. Dr. Ruth holds a Bachelor of Laws degree, a Master's in Child Care and Protection degree, and a PhD Public Management Peace Studies. She also holds a degree in theology.
	Ms Huba Boshoff, The Knowledge Collab, South Africa Bio to follow
	Ms Helin Bäckman Kartal, Upsala University, Sweden Bio to follow
	Dr Kevin Ncube, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa Dr Kevin Ncube is a Senior Lecturer in Consumer Behaviour & Marketing Research at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. He is currently working on a project on Language-in-Use in Multilingual Classrooms, which reimagines how African students learn and communicate in linguistically diverse learning spaces. His work focuses on how multilingualism can enhance teaching, learning, and student engagement in higher education by embracing students' linguistic resources and cultural identities.
	Mr Dingaan Booi, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa Mr Dingaan Booi is an international education practitioner at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. He supports the design and coordination of cross-border partnerships and mobility programmes. Drawing on his work across the African continent, he brings insight into how intercultural collaboration and multilingual practices can inform inclusive and context-sensitive programme development and policy alignment in higher education.
	Dawit Daniel, Dire Dawa University, Ethiopia Bio to follow
	Mr Nidal Benali, International University of Rabat, Morocco Bio to follow
	Dr Samia Chasi, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa Bio to follow
	Maysa Abuzant, An-Najah National University, West Bank, Palestine Maysa Abuzant is an English Language instructor at An-Najah National University. She teaches all levels of learners, trains EFL teachers, and co-develops COIL/VE programs that promote cross-cultural dialogue, equity in education, and digital global engagement for Palestinian students.
	Abdalkarim Zawawi, An-Najah National University, West Bank, Palestine Abdalkarim Zawawi is an Assistant Professor of Linguistics at An-Najah National University. His research focuses on syntax, language acquisition, and virtual exchange. He explores how interaction, identity, and task-based dialogue impact language learning across diverse sociolinguistic contexts.
	Alia Gilbrecht, An-Najah National University, West Bank, Palestine Alia Gilbrecht is a global education specialist and virtual exchange leader with over a decade of experience designing justice-oriented COIL programs. She founded the VE Collaborative at An-Najah University and consults on equitable international partnerships across MENA, Europe, and the U.S.
	Francesca Helm, University of Padova, Italy Francesca Helm is Associate Professor at the University of Padova, specializing in English language and virtual exchange. A founding member of UNICollaboration, she researches decolonial approaches to international education and co-leads Erasmus+ VE projects fostering equity, dialogue, and global engagement.
	Rene Anita Chombeng, Pepperdine University, USA & Cameroon Rene Anita Chombeng is a Change Management Specialist, educator, and intercultural leadership scholar with over 25 years' experience working across the public, nonprofit, and international development sectors. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change at Pepperdine University. Her research focuses on empowering African immigrant women through digital and intercultural leadership. Rene founded Rene Anita Impact Consulting and is a faculty member teaching organizational development and ethics. Her work integrates African indigenous knowledge, decolonial thought, and intercultural frameworks to promote inclusive, ethical leadership in Africa and the diaspora. As a passionate advocate for epistemic justice, she engages communities and institutions in reclaiming culturally grounded leadership models.
	Prim-Rose Makhosazane Shabane (Dudu), Durban University of Technology, South Africa Dr. Prim-Rose Dudu Shabane is a professional high schoolteacher who taught for 14 years at JG Zuma, a school with the historically disadvantaged background in the INK area (Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu). She taught grade 12 English First Additional Language for 12 years. Currently she is working as a lecturer at the Durban University of Technology, working based at the International Centre of Nonviolence (ICON). Dudu holds a Bachelor of Education (Further Education and Training), Bachelor of Education Honours (Gender Education), Master in Education (Gender Education) and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of KwaZulu-Natal within the Curriculum Studies. The title of her doctoral thesis is: Negotiating Identity: The experiences of black self-identified lesbian youth in rural and township contexts of KwaZulu-Natal. For the past 19 years she been a member of the Community Development Association (CDA), a student driven organisation that focuses on giving back to black historically disadvantaged communities, mostly in KwaZulu-Natal. Currently she is serving as a CDA Foundation member, an alumni structure made up of the CDA postgraduates. Dudu has also taught grade 10 and 11 for five years as an Access Lead English Teacher (a Micro-scholarship English Programme funded by the Department of States of America from the years 2017-2018 and 2020-2022) within KwaZulu-Natal secondary schools. Her area of interest includes conflict reconciliation, nation-building, peacebuilding, social justice and gender. As a teacher, her passion comes from a life-long obsession with working with youth. From a young age, she has realised the potential and the contribution of the youth in social change. She believes that through education, young people can profoundly impact their communities. If they are provided with relevant skills, knowledge and support they can be empathetic citizens who could potentially continue to work passionately and give back to their communities.
	Dr. Seun Bello Olamosu, Dartmouth College, USA Dr. Seun Bello Olamosu has worked in international education and higher education administration for over two decades. Seun is passionate about creating and providing access to transformative spaces where people can thrive and grow. Seun has been at the forefront of inclusive learning and internationalization efforts, supporting the adjustment of students to academic environments and increasing the awareness and growth of staff, faculty, and administrators to their roles as change agents. Her own personal journey of navigating spaces, having been raised in Nigeria but living in the U.S for most of her life, makes her passionate about intercultural awareness and development. Seun earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development with a focus on Leadership in Intercultural and International Education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She obtained both her M.A. and B.A. from NC State University with a focus on cross-cultural communication and mass communication respectively.
	Msakha Mona, University of Cape Town, South Africa While Msakha has delivered presentations and performances in different parts of South Africa, including on television and radio, he has also been to other parts of the world, including Japan, Nigeria, Kenya, and USA. In all of these engagements, Msakha seeks to contribute to building a world in which the arts and education can work towards unleashing human potential beyond the confines of coloniality.
	Carey Stewart, Virginia Tech, USA Assistant Director for Intercultural Learning, Cranwell International Center Program Director, Mozaiko Living-Learning Community, Virginia Tech Carey Stewart is the Assistant Director for Intercultural Learning at Cranwell International Center and Program Director for the Mozaiko Living-Learning Community at Virginia Tech. A Ph.D. student in Curriculum and Instruction, her research focuses on fostering intercultural learning and belonging among undergraduate students. A life-long learner, she holds advanced degrees in Educational Leadership and Educational Psychology, along with multiple graduate certificates. Carey has conducted research across Europe on global perspectives in higher education. An experienced educator, presenter, and published scholar, Carey has a background in instructional design, educational administration, and supervision. She has mentored students and faculty and has supported the student experience across K–12 public education and higher education. Her passions include instructional strategies, inclusive pedagogy, intercultural learning, and fostering belonging in living-learning communities.
	Prof Kat Yassim, University of Johannesburg, South Africa Prof Kat Yassim is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education Leadership and Management in the University of Johannesburg's Faculty of Education. She leads the green pedagogy community of practice where the integration of sustainability into existing and new modules, programs and curriculum is a core focus of the COP. In addition she has led a number of Green Pedagogy COIL projects and is a strong proponent of education for sustainable futures.
	Prof Oumaima Elghazali, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco Oumaima Elghazali is currently a University Professor Assistant of English Communication and Soft skills at ENSIAS school affiliated with Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco. She previously worked as the Youth Development Programming and Training Specialist at the US governmental agency, Peace Corps Morocco. Oumaima earned her doctorate in the field of Educational and Intercultural Exchange and Skills Development in Youth from the 'Language, Culture and Society' Doctoral Program at the Faculty of Letters at Mohammed V University. Professor Elghazali has more than ten years of experience, both as a researcher and a practitioner, in the fields of intercultural exchange, youth development, and volunteerism. Her research interests include: Intercultural Competence and Cultural Intelligence Development, Active Learning, Education and Multicultural Curricula, Soft Skills in Classroom Teaching, Training Design and Assessment, and Virtual Exchange.
Poster Presenters:
	Aya Anzouk, Al Akhawayn University, Morocco My name is Aya Anzouk and I am a psychology undergraduate student at Al Akhawayn University. I'm also an opinion writer for Arabic Post and Al Tanweeri magazine, and an Arabic fiction writer for ida2at and The New Arab.
	Dr Timea Németh, University of Pécs, Hungary Timea Németh, Phd, is an associate professor at the Department of Languages for Biomedical Purposes and Communication, University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary. She has experience in teaching and research related to intercultural communication and language learning in medical education. Her research interests include the development of intercultural competence, intercultural language learning, internationalisation of higher education, study abroad programmes, and the integration of online and AI-based tools in educational settings. She is actively involved in curriculum development and international collaborations aimed at enhancing the global competencies of students and staff.
	Dr Anna Dávidovics, University of Pécs, Hungary Anna Dávidovics, Phd, is an assistant professor at the Department of Languages for Biomedical Purposes and Communication, University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary. Her research focuses on the medical school learning environment, with particular interest in student engagement, innovative educational methodologies, and the impact of gamification, digitalisation, and AI technologies on learning outcomes. She is committed to advancing teaching practices that foster student-centred and technology-enhanced education in the medical field.
	Dr Balázs Sütő, University of Pécs, Hungary Balázs Sütő, MD, Phd, is an assistant professor at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary. In addition to his academic and clinical responsibilities, he has gained considerable international experience, working with patients from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, thus contributing to the teaching of culturally competent care and the global exchange of medical knowledge and best practices.
	Dr Erika Marek, University of Pécs, Hungary Erika Marek, PhD, is an associate professor at the Department of Public Health, University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary. Her research interests include migrant and ethnic minority health, health-sociology, community health, with a special focus on vulnerable populations, their health knowledge and health behavior, as well as their access to healthcare services, thus improving migration-health awareness and intercultural competence of medical students.
	Omid Aazami, Globi. The Netherlands Omid Aazami (1978) is trainer and facilitator specialised in multi-cultural collaborative environments. He presently focuses on intercultural competences applying multiple methodologies for dialogue and meaningful conversations. He has worked extensively with youth, young professionals and educators. His past professional experience includes strategy consultancy, airline operations management and programme development for professional collaboration. Omid is driven by the beliefs that each human being is noble by nature and carries forward an ever-advancing civilization. Having been raised in a multicultural environment with roots in Iran, The Netherlands and Niger, it is his life-long mission to learn from the challenges of cross-cultural exposure and bring to practice its potential benefits. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering and a Master's degree in Engineering & Policy Analysis at Delft Technical University.
	Rosanne Severs, Globi, The Netherlands Rosanne Severs (1985) is the founder and director of Globi, a Dutch organization dedicated to promoting cultural diversity, intercultural development, and global citizenship in education. She holds degrees in Language & Cultural Studies and a Master's in Intercultural Communication from Utrecht University. Rosanne specializes in translating complex academic approaches into practical educational interventions. Her work focuses on creating accessible frameworks that help educators foster meaningful intercultural understanding in diverse learning environments. With over a decade of experience bridging theory and practice, she has developed innovative methodologies for cultural exchange emphasizing collaborative growth and mutual connection.
	Dr. Sandy Marshall, Elon University, USA Dr. Sandy Marshall is an Associate Professor of Geography at Elon University, where he also contributes to the International and Global Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies programs. His work focuses on migration, youth geographies, and intergenerational memory, particularly in contexts of conflict and displacement such as Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dr. Marshall employs creative visual methods, including digital storytelling and photovoice, to explore themes of trauma, resilience, and belonging. At Elon, he helps lead the Power+Place Collaborative, which documents local histories through oral storytelling, and has facilitated Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) exchanges to foster critical intercultural dialogue.
	Dr. Abdalkarim Zawawi, An-Najah National University in Nablus, Palestine Dr. Abdalkarim Zawawi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at An-Najah National University in Nablus, Palestine. He specializes in syntax, language acquisition, and early reading instruction in the mother tongue. Dr. Zawawi holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Lancaster University, where his research focused on syntactic priming in oral production among L1 and L2 English speakers. His academic interests encompass applied linguistics, including task-based dialogue, language learning, and the interplay between language and identity. He has significant expertise in employing virtual exchanges as a tool to enhance language teaching and has contributed to studies on digital citizenship and Arabic learning
	Dr. Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler, Elon University, USA Dr. Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler is Director of the Center for Research on Global Engagement (CRGE) and a professor of psychology at Elon University. A developmental psychologist, Maureen studies sociocultural and global contexts of learning, including mentoring relationships in high-impact practices such as undergraduate research and global learning. Maureen is a co-editor of the AAC&U publication Mentored Undergraduate Research in Global Contexts: Integrated High-Impact Practices for Student Success (2024) and the volume Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research (2018). As CRGE director, she facilitates innovative, interdisciplinary, inter-institutional collaborations and research on global engagement.
	Dr. Waseem-Ahmed Bin-Kasim , Elon University, USA Dr. Waseem-Ahmed Bin-Kasim is an Assistant Professor of History at Elon University, specializing in African history. His research focuses particularly on the political economy of urban health in Ghana and Kenya. Dr. Kasim's book, titled Urban Saniscapes: Slums, Housing, and Everyday Sanitation in Accra and Nairobi, 1908–1963, is set to be published in November 2025 as part of the Michigan State University African History and Culture series.
	Dr Divinia Jithoo, Durban University of Technology, South Africa Divinia Jithoo is a Specialist in International Education at the Durban University of Technology. She has experience in higher education internationalisation with a keen focus on internationalisation of the curriculum. She has developed expertise in International Virtual Engagement (IVE), specifically, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) as a approach to inclusive internationalisation. She also serves as the Co-Chair for the UNESCO Chair on intercultural competence, which is housed at Stellenbosch University. She holds a PhD in Higher Education Studies from the University of Western Cape. Her research has highlighted global structural dynamics of academic cross border collaboration.
	Normah Zondo, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa Normah Zondo is the Executive Director of the Corporate Relations Division at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), where she leads strategic communications, internationalisation efforts, and stakeholder engagement. With over 15 years' experience in higher education leadership, she is currently pursuing a PhD focused on the international student mobility and lived experiences. She is a President of the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) and serves on various national and international advisory bodies. Her work champions Africa-centred internationalisation, youth mobility, and inclusive global engagement.
	Sameha Bouhalhoul, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA), The Netherlands Sameha Bouhalhoul, with 15 years of experience in the Social Work program at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA), is dedicated to promoting inclusion, gender equality, and social justice. In her roles as lecturer, academic advisor, and project manager, she has initiated innovative projects such as SeSi Community Center and a women-focused module titeld Womxn: Social Change and Soccial Justice, while developing impactful, curriculum-embedded programs on diversity and emancipation. Her educational vision merges feminist pedagogy with social engagement, focusing on preparing students as future leaders.

2025 UNESCO CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Pre- conference Workshop Facilitators

Parallel Session Speakers:​

Parallel Session Speakers: