Keynote speakers

Ahmed Guessoum received his Ph.D. in Computer Science (specializing in Knowledge Bases and Logic Programming) from the University of Bristol. He is currently a Professor and Senior Researcher at the National School of Artificial Intelligence (ENSIA) in Algiers. With a career spanning several decades, he has held various academic positions and contributed significantly to the advancement of computational research in the Arab world.

His research interests include Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing, with a primary focus on Arabic Language Processing. Recently, his work has expanded into the integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI tools within the paradigm of higher education.

Elhadj Benkhelifa is a passionate academic and researcher with almost 20 years of experience and demonstrable leadership skills at an international level. His research focuses on the development of solutions to support the next generation digital transformation’s technologies and paradigms.

He is currently a full Professor of Computer Science and Digital Innovations at Staffordshire University, where he is also the Head of Professoriate. Elhadj is the Founding Director of the Smart Systems, AI and Cybersecurity Research Centre (SSAICS).

Prior to joining Staffordshire University in 2010, he was a lead researcher at Cranfield University and a lecturer at the University of Bristol. His research interests cover Cloud Computing (Fog/Edge), Blockchain, IoT, and Cybersecurity. He has published over 150 papers and delivered close to 40 keynote talks worldwide.

Elhadj is a Senior Member of IEEE, a Member of ACM, and a Fellow of UK HEA.

John Traxler, FRSA, is Professor of Digital Learning in the Institute of Education at the University of Wolverhampton and UNESCO Chair: Innovative Informal Digital Learning in Disadvantaged and Development Contexts. He also holds a Chair from the Commonwealth of Learning, a unique and unprecedented combination.

He is a Founding Director of the International Association for Mobile Learning. He is co-editor of the definitive, Mobile Learning: A Handbook for Educators and Trainers, and many keynotes, panels, papers, articles and chapters on all aspects of learning with mobiles. His journal papers have been cited over 10,000 times and he is in the top 2% in his discipline.

He has extensive experience developing e-learning and mobile learning capacity amongst university teachers, becoming heavily involved in policy and strategy over the last five years. He is a frequent international keynote speaker and has worked with numerous international agencies and corporates.