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Spotlight authors are recognized experts and commentators in the field of education policy, strategy and management. With their strong interest in innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education, they represent diverse walks of life, from traditional university leadership, professorship and research to journalism and social activism movements.
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Clare Adams
Head of University Success, Handshake
Clare Adams is Head of University Success at Handshake, working with Universities to level the playing field and ensure that all students have equal access to meaningful work. Prior to this, Clare has spent over a decade in a variety of roles across student and careers services. She worked with AGCAS Social Mobility Working Party, helping develop resources for universities and graduate employers to promote social mobility, and has also been part of the University of Westminster's careers team, as a Careers and Employability Service Manager.
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Articles:
Net Loss – Why Are We Seeing Exclusionary Graduate Hiring Networks Replicated Online?
Emmanuel Adu Ohene
Junior International Project Officer, ACEEU
Emmanuel has a background in sustainable development and sustainability reporting. With an M.B.A in Environmental Management of Resources and Environment, Emmanuel specialises in managing EU projects with a focus on sustainability in higher education at ACEEU.
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Articles:
Student Engagement for Sustainable Development
Shqiprim Ahmeti
Head of the Institute for Urban Studies & Spatial Planning and Lead of Sustainability Operations, University for Business and Technology, Kosovo
Shqiprim Ahmeti is an Urban and Regional Planner operating between Prishtina, Kosovo and Tampere, Finland, with expertise in strategic spatial planning, integrated urban solutions, and smart cities. With over seven years of experience, Shqiprim has contributed to academia, government projects, and urban regeneration initiatives. Currently pursuing Doctoral Studies at Tampere University, he has also led major projects such as Smart City Strategies, Sustainable Spatial Development Plans, and Urban Mobility Solutions. His work spans advising governmental bodies, teaching urban planning courses, and publishing research on sustainable development.
In his current role as the Head of the Institute for Urban Studies & Spatial Planning and Lead of Sustainability Operations at UBT in Kosovo, Shqiprim has led different working group in the process of designing university’s strategic document addressing sustainability, as such as the Institutional Strategy for Addressing and Promoting SDG-s, Institutional Action Plan for a Smart and Carbon-Neutral Campus etc.
A dedicated researcher and educator, Shqiprim's work focuses on integrated urban solutions, human-scale planning and design, transformative governance and EU territorial policies, contributing to the advancement of global urban planning practices.
Articles:
Destiny and Ambition: The Parallel Rise of Kosovo and UBT Under Prof. Hajrizi's Vision
Dr. Damon Andrew
Dean and Professor of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Florida State University
Dr. Damon Andrew serves as Dean and Professor of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at Florida State University. He earned an associate’s degree from Coastal Alabama Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of South Alabama, two additional master’s degrees in Biomechanics and Sport Management from the University of Florida, and a Ph.D. in Sport Management from Florida State University. In addition, he completed post-graduate certificates in higher education administration from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, Pennsylvania State University’s College of Education, and Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development.
Dr. Andrew directed the University of Louisville’s doctoral program in Sport Administration from 2004-06 and founded and directed a doctoral program in Sport Management at the University of Tennessee from 2006-08 before serving as the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Troy University from 2008-13 and Dean of the College of Human Sciences and Education at Louisiana State University from 2013-18. As a higher education administrator, he has developed a reputation as a transformational leader with the ability to reach lofty goals, even under trying circumstances.
Articles:
FSU Project ElevatED: Elevating Education in Florida
Professor Rowena Barrett
Pro Vice-Chancellor Entrepreneurship,
Rowena is an innovative leader, passionate about enabling individuals’ futures through learning. She is motivated by creating opportunities for others to thrive. Her purpose is to ensure a widespread understanding of what an entrepreneurial mindset can bring and how the tools of entrepreneurship can bring innovations to the world to facilitate change that creates diverse, desirable and sustainable futures for all.
With degrees in Science, Education, Commerce and Industrial Relations, Rowena brings a multi-disciplinary perspective to her work. Her work and employment scholarship, undertaken in the context of new, small and growing frms, has been published widely and supported by indsutry and government funding. She brings QUT’s commitment to, and plays a leading role in, the positve and exciting development of the Queensland entrepreneurial ecosystem.
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Articles:
Entrepreneurship for the Real World at Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Ransford Bekoe
Journalist, Association of African Universities (AAU)
Ransford Bekoe works with the Association of African Universities (AAU) in Ghana and is currently the television manager of the Association’s television station, AAU TV. He writes passionately about educational, health and social issues. He is also an interviewer, reader, leadership training facilitator and a motivational speaker.
Articles:
Constructing Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa Presents Unique Opportunities and Challenges
Timothy Bellavia
Assistant Professor, Touro University
Once an aspiring fashion designer, Timothy Bellavia, M.F.A., M.B.A. turned his attention to arts education / pedagogy through dolls and has collaborated with several non-profit organizations including Sesame Workshop, Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation, and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. Timothy is an Assistant Professor of the Graduate School of Education at Touro University in New York City. He is a recipient of Education Update’s Outstanding Educator of the Year Award, won several arts and digital education awards and served as an integral part of the five-year research project to highlight the importance of integrating STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) topics into elementary school's curriculum.
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Articles:
Sage Doll Avatars: Making Education MORE Engaging and Effective
Dr. Claudia Betancur
Deputy Director General of Education, Development Centres of the Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios – UNIMINUTO
PhD in Education, Master in Teaching and Bachelor in Educational Informatics.
She is an expert in educational leadership, social responsibility, inclusive education and flexible models of education. She has served as director of graduate programs, director of social responsibility and professor of master's programs.
She has written articles and books that systematize experiences in social responsibility, community work and eco-leadership as a new leadership perspective.
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Articles:
Training in Social Responsibility: Transforming Lives in the Most Vulnerable Territories of Colombia
Angel Calderon
Principal Advisor, Planning and Research, RMIT University (Australia)
Angel Calderon is co-editor of a book on institutional research and planning in higher education, published by Routledge. He has also co-authored another two volumes on higher education. His research interests include higher education policy, international education, impacts of trade liberalization on educational services, global megatrends, benchmarking and university rankings.
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Articles:
Embracing the Sustainable Development Goals and Forging a Way Forward
Federica Casaccio
Global Partnership Manager, GoBlu
Federica Casaccio works as a Global Partnership Manager at a tech-company in the sector of sustainability for the textile and fashion industry.
Prior to that, she worked in the higher education sector, where she managed several Erasmus+ projects within the cross-cutting themes of digitalisation, women entrepreneurship and innovation. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Political Science and International Relations (Milan, Italy and Zagreb, Croatia) and a Master's Degree in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies (Castellon de la Plana, Spain) where she specialised in the analysis of peace education as a society’s transformative tool. Federica has extensive expertise in research, advocacy, project management and business development. Her experiences include working in Spain, Czech Republic, Lebanon, the Netherlands and Germany in numerous organisations and impact-driven projects.
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Articles:
Bridging Gaps in Meeting Societal Needs
Rafael Chanin
Adjunct Professor, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS)
Rafael Chanin holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil, and an M.B.A. from Northeastern University, Boston, USA. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at PUCRS, where he actively contributes to the startup ecosystem by organizing events and investing in new ventures. Rafael is a partner and an Executive Board Member at DBServices Portugal, a company specializing in digital solutions. As an Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE), his research interests include startups, software engineering education, and agile and lean software development methodologies. Rafael's commitment to innovation is evident through his involvement with TECNOPUC Startups, where he mentors and supports emerging tech companies. He also plays a significant role in integrating Challenge-Based Learning into educational environments, enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes. His approach to leadership emphasizes collaboration, fostering a culture where both students and team members can bring forth their ideas and expertise, thereby driving collective growth and innovation.
Articles:
Embracing AI in Education: Transforming Classrooms for the Future
Chiungfen Chen
Analysis and Project Manager at the Office of International Affairs, National Taiwan University
Chiungfen Chen serves as an Analysis and Project Manager at the Office of International Affairs at National Taiwan University (NTU). For the past decade, she has engaged in international higher education and undertaken numerous international projects to facilitate faculty and student exchanges worldwide. In addition to participating in presentations with university partners at international higher education conferences such as Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) and Association of International Educators (NAFSA), she has contributed articles at international media outlets such as QS Global Education News and South China Morning Post in order to highlight issues of international higher education. Meanwhile, she delivered presentations related to international education across the globe including in Germany, India and Thailand and participated in Erasmus+ programs in Sweden and Turkey to facilitate staff mobility. She obtained her master degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Articles:
Envisioning International Terrain of Digitalization in Higher Education
Kathryn Cormican
Professor in Systems Engineering and Director of the Enterprise Research Centre in the School of Engineering, University of Galway (Ireland)
Kathryn Cormican is a Professor in Systems Engineering and Director of the Enterprise Research Centre in the School of Engineering at the University of Galway in Ireland. She leads a large multidisciplinary research team working in the area of technology innovation and entrepreneurship. She is internationally recognised for her contribution to research and has won many prestigious best-paper awards. She has been a keynote speaker at several international conferences and has published extensively in high-impact journals in her field. She has secured over €2.5 million in research income and is currently leading three EU-funded projects. Her contribution to both research and practice has been recognised through several invited keynote addresses at international conferences and symposia. Kathryn directs an award-winning MSc programme specifically designed to equip graduates with the requisite skills needed for employment in the high-tech industry. She received the President’s award for teaching excellence in 2018 and was awarded Female Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year in 2022 by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities.
Articles:
Grand Designs: Creating a new mindset for entrepreneurial education
Dr. Carolin Decker-Lange
Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director (Business) of SCiLAB,, The Open University
Dr Carolin Decker-Lange is a Senior Lecturer in Management and Deputy Director (Business) of SCiLAB, the Scholarship Centre for Innovation in Legal and Business Education at The Open University, UK. Previously she held positions at UWE Bristol Business School, the University of Bremen, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, and Freie Universität Berlin (Germany), where she obtained her PhD and post-doctoral lecture qualification (“Habilitation”). Her research interests include organisational development and change, interorganisational collaboration, and entrepreneurship. Since joining The Open University in 2018, Carolin has been doing scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) with a special focus on entrepreneurship.
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Articles:
Lessons from the World Café: reflections on entrepreneurship education effectiveness
Antonio Dottore
Independent educator, Australian Institute of Management
Dr Antonio Dottore’s professional career spans the public and private sectors, across various continents.
As an Economist and Sovereign Analyst in the financial sector, in Sydney and London, he covered developed and emerging markets through various booms and crises: Citibank, Fidelity Investments, Henderson Investors. Antonio has taught in Australia, Europe, and Asia for several institutions: Australian Institute of Management, The University of Adelaide, Flinders University, Muenster University of Applied Sciences, Nankai University.
Antonio has an MBA from INSEAD, and a PhD in Entrepreneurship, on business model adaptation. He has qualifications in financial planning and in corporate governance. His Directorships have been in disability and aged care organisations, as well as in Business Schools. Antonio is also Director and Company Secretary of the INSEAD Alumni Association for Australia and New Zealand.
Amongst his pro bono activities, Antonio conducts a community radio current affairs program. Dr Antonio Dottore likes to support individuals and organisations aim for both growth and meaning.
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Articles:
Did you hear me? Framework for a listening culture in the engaged university
Leadership for the Engaged University:
Nurturing Social Capital to Leverage Organisational Knowledge
Josh Duke
Communications Director for the Office of Strategic Outreach and Recruitment, Florida State University’s College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.
Josh Duke is the Communications Director for the Office of Strategic Outreach and Recruitment at Florida State University’s College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences. He earned his bachelor’s from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and a master’s from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. He has worked in marketing and communications since 2010 in both the private and public sector, and he joined Florida State University in 2018. He previously served as the Communications Manager for the FSU College of Health and Human Sciences and the Assistant Director of Communications at the FSU College of Education. During his time at FSU, he led the rebrand of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences as it underwent its expansion to become the second largest college on campus. He also greatly expanded the Office of Communications, which became the Office of Strategic Outreach and Recruitment to reflect the integrated marketing approach he brought to his role and team. The office now oversees the marketing, communications, recruitment, and event planning needs of the College and its 187 full-time faculty and 73 full-time staff.
Articles:
FSU Project ElevatED: Elevating Education in Florida
Judi Eyles
Director of Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, Iowa State University
Judi Eyles has been with the Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship since it started in 1996 and currently serves as its director. Eyles is a member of USASBE, GCEC, CEO, and is a CNBC Disruptor 50 advisory council member. Judi was previously with the Small Business Development Center at Iowa State, owned a graduation gown rental business, and is a graduate of the Iowa State Ivy College of Business.
Articles:
Collaboration is Key: Creating a Cross-Campus Entrepreneurship Program
Dr. Liliana Fonseca
Research Associate, University of Strathclyde
Dr Liliana Fonseca is a Research Associate at the European Policies Research Centre (EPRC) of the University of Strathclyde (UK) and TUDelft (NL). At EPRC she is project manager for the Net Zero Industrial Cluster Exchange (NICE) and the Interreg Europe COMMIT project on Low-carbon SME development and transition. She has also contributed to research in several projects (e.g. H2020 project TRACER on smart strategies for the just transition, IQ-Net and EoRPA country- and EU-level research, and the Northern Periphery and Arctic programme). Between 2017-2020 she was an Early Stage Research Fellow of the H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network RUNIN (The Role of Universities in Innovation and Regional Development) at the University of Aveiro (PT), in which she developed her PhD research on universities’ engagement in regional innovation policy like that of Smart Specialisation, through international comparative research.
Her previous studies focused on political science, governance, urban and regional sustainability and grassroots initiatives. She holds a PhD in Public Policies from the University of Aveiro, an MSc in Eco-Cities by Cardiff University, and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Relations by the New University of Lisbon.
Articles:
How Universities Shape Regional Innovation Policy and Governance
Dr. Martina Gaisch
Professor, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
Dr. Martina Gaisch is professor of English, intercultural competence and diversity management at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Austria. She completed her doctoral studies in philosophy at the University of Vienna.
As an applied linguist working at a school of informatics her research focuses on the interface of educational sociology, higher education research and sociolinguistics. She has profound insights into seven different universities throughout Austria, Germany, France and the UK where she lived, studied and conducted research.
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Articles:
Carrying the Third Mission Weight Requires Many Shoulders: Can Austria Learn from the German Approach?
Professor Sonya Girdler
Director of the Curtin Autism Research Group (CARG), Curtin University
Sonya is affiliated with the School of Allied Health at Curtin University and is Director of the Curtin Autism Research Group (CARG). Sonya oversees all research activity and programs within CARG. Sonya has extensive experience in the field of autism research and neurodevelopmental disorders more broadly. Sonya is particularly interested in understanding functioning in autism using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO), the development, evaluation and translation into practice of evidence-based interventions (particularly social skills, strengths-based programs and mental health), and research directed at improving the participation of autistic individuals in major life areas such as employment and education.
The work of CARG is underpinned by a philosophy of "Nothing about you without you" with all projects either being co-lead or informed by autistic individuals themselves (Photovoice study co-produced with autistic adults). CARG is fundamentally committed to impact and translation, frequently holding community and virtual events, informing the community of the latest evidence-based practice. Sonya is a Darmstadt soccer fan.
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Articles:
Unleashing the Power and Talents of Neurodiversity
Prof. Dr Abdul Jalil Ghazali
Senior Vice President for Industrial Linkages and Entrepreneurship, Management & Science University (MSU)
Prof. Dr Abdul Jalil Ghazali is currently the Senior Vice President of Industrial Linkages and Entrepreneurship for Management & Science University (MSU). He oversees MSU’s industry-university partnerships, entrepreneurship ecosystem and development of Start-Ups in emerging technologies such as blockchain and is actively involved in the University's strategic initiatives. He has over 36 years of experience in various management roles in auditing and human resources in both local and multinational companies and had served PETRONAS, PROTON, JT International, Maybank Investment Bank, and FGV IFFCO. He holds a Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Newcastle, Australia, and is a Certified Professional Coach. He also serves as a Committee member within the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Malaysia. Socially, he is active in social works related to elevating education, economic and social needs of underprivileged communities in Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia.
Articles:
Building a Purpose-Driven, High-Performing Culture at a Higher Education Institution
Ben Jongbloed
Senior research associate, Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS)
Ben Jongbloed is a senior research associate in the Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS) at the University of Twente, where he received his PhD. He has worked at CHEPS for almost 30 years, studying issues of governance and resource allocation in higher education. He was involved in several policy evaluations and consultancies for clients such as ministries of education and the European Commission. Ben published widely on the public and private funding of higher education and research. Besides that, his work focuses on embedding entrepreneurship (HEInnovate) and sustainability in higher education (DECODE). He also teaches public policy and higher education economics at the University of Twente and in Oslo University and he regularly supervises students and PhD candidates working on their thesis.
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Articles:
Embedding Sustainability in Academia: Deans as Change Makers
Ibrahim M. Karkouti
Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Graduate School of Education, The American University in Cairo
Ibrahim M. Karkouti is an independent thinker, a young scholar, and a life-long learner who teaches leadership at the American University in Cairo. Ten years of professional experience in Lebanon, Qatar, and the United States have taught Ibrahim that learning has no boundaries and that education matters the most when it is used to remedy the deleterious effects of segregation, racism, sectarianism, and other forms of discriminatory practices that prevent historically excluded populations from attaining their basic rights to education, healthcare, and prosperity. Karkouti’s research focuses on diversity issues in higher education, the elements that aid in the facilitation of the use of technology in the classroom and the types of social support K-12 teachers need to embrace and implement reform.
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Articles:
Entrepreneurial Leadership Failure and Its Impact on Student Entrepreneurial Spirit
Wendy Kerr
Director, Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The University of Auckland
Wendy Kerr is Director of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Auckland, where she aims to grow business savvy, entrepreneurially minded students. In her tenure there she has transformed the Centre, developing programmes and initiatives which have increased participation by 370% since 2015. Now, 8% of the University of Auckland student body are involved in the Centre’s innovation and entrepreneurship programmes, including the recently launched incubator and the iconic innovation hub which was opened by the Prime Minister. In 2019, the University was named Entrepreneurial University of the Year at the Asia-Pacific Triple E (Entrepreneurship and Engagement Excellence) Awards.
Over her career Wendy has been drawn to developing new ventures. An experienced General Manager she has global experience in leading technology and media start-ups with the Financial Times, Pearson and Quicken. In these roles she developed and executed the business strategy to grow successful ventures, and a record breaking tech IPO on the ASX.
Wendy is a Board member for the icehouse, chair of a femtech startup, an active angel investor, and mentors high potential start-ups. She is also a speaker in demand and a best selling author, having written two books on female led start ups, one of which got to number one on Amazon.
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Articles:
Leading Entrepreneurship at a University During Turbulent Times
David A. Kirby
Holder of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion,
Professor David A Kirby is Honorary Professor of Practice at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and Co-Founder (with Felicity Healey-Benson of UWTSD) of the Harmonious Entrepreneurship Society. From the early 1980s he pioneered the teaching of Entrepreneurship in the UK and internationally and from 2007-2017 was founding Dean and Vice President of the British University in Egypt, in which capacity he introduced Entrepreneurship Education to the University and the country. He is the author of “Entrepreneurship” (McGraw-Hill, 2003), and his many research publications include 10 book chapters and some 24 academic journal articles on Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurial Universities, several of which have championed new approaches to the subject. In 2006 he was a recipient of The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion and in 2022 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Triple E Award Ceremony in Florence, where the European Entrepreneurial University of the Year Award was awarded to the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
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Articles:
Forty Years of Entrepreneurship at UWTSD
Saving the Planet with Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship Education and ADHD: Is It Time to Support Right-Brain Thinkers?
Entrepreneurial University and COVID-19: Opportunities for Entrepreneurial Transformation?
Dr. Lina Landinez
CEO, ACEEU
Dr. Lina Landinez, the CEO at ACEEU has worked in the three elements of the Triple Helix Model. Her expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship stems from years of experience working with government and management in universities in Colombia, research organisations in Australia and as a lecturer in Germany prior to joining ACEEU. At ACEEU, Dr Lina guides the team brings to life the strategic next steps of the company. Lina's academic journey began with a deep dive into plant research, from where her passion for innovation led to the study of economics of innovation. Her experience of managing innovation at a company level came together to now foster excellence in innovation, entrepreneurship and engagement in universities around the world.
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Articles:
Entrepreneurial Universities: The Alignment of the Teaching and Learning practices
Dr. Vicky Lewis
Founder and Director, Vicky Lewis Consulting
Dr Vicky Lewis is an independent consultant, based in the UK, who specialises in working with Higher Education institutions to develop or refine international strategies, infrastructure and implementation plans.
Clients range from small, specialist institutions just setting out on their internationalisation journey to highly ranked universities with an impressive global footprint. Since establishing her business in 2013, Vicky has worked with numerous UK-based HEIs as well as providers in Germany, France, Sweden, Malaysia, Israel, Australia and the US.
Vicky’s consultancy expertise draws on professional experience and academic research. Before becoming a consultant, she worked for 19 years within UK universities (in Wales, Scotland and England). This included 13 years at Senior Management Team level at Bournemouth University, where she was initially appointed to set up an International Office from scratch and progressed to become Director of Marketing & Communications, leading a large, multi-function team.
In 2007, Vicky completed the University of Bath’s DBA (Higher Education Management) with a thesis on ‘integrated internationalism’ within UK HEIs. Subsequent research has focused on transnational education and on institutional strategies for internationalisation and global engagement.
Vicky is a regular speaker at international conferences, a keen blogger and a Consulting Fellow with Halpin Partnership.
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Articles:
HEI Global Engagement: From ‘Blah, Blah, Blah’ to Concrete Measures
Dr. Ben Milbourn
Senior Lecturer, Curtin University
Senior Lecturer, (teaching and research) in Occupational Therapy, Curtin School of Allied Health-Curtin University. Ben trained as an occupational therapist (OT) in the United Kingdom (UK), working in New Zealand, Australia and the UK practicing occupational therapy in mental health and disability contexts. Ben undertook a PhD at Curtin University in occupational therapy, focusing on the occupational meaning of everyday activity of people who experience severe mental illness. Ben is Deputy Director of Curtin Autism Research Group (CARG) and is interested in research with a strong community focus, working alongside autistic individuals to promote social inclusion, well-being and positive mental health. Ben is passionate about co-produced research and developing strengths-based programs in the community. Ben is an Arsenal soccer fan.
Articles:
Unleashing the Power and Talents of Neurodiversity
Mohamad Faiz Mohd Amin
Associate Professor, University of Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohamad Faiz Mohd Amin is a distinguished environmental scientist and a seasoned academic leader at the University of Malaysia Kelantan (UMK). With over 16 years of experience in the field, Dr. Faiz specialises in biological and physico-chemical water and wastewater treatment, environmental pollution analysis, climate change, and sustainability. He holds a PhD in Engineering from TU Delft, Netherlands, focusing on physical-chemical wastewater treatment, and an MSc and BSc in Science from UTM, Johor, Malaysia.
Former Dean of the Faculty of Earth Science, UMK, and currently an Associate Professor, Dr. Faiz has led significant projects aimed at enhancing sustainability and operational efficiency within and beyond the academic community. His innovative work on the UMK Groundwater Water Treatment and Quality Monitoring System has not only revolutionised water management practices at UMK but has also extended its benefits to the local communities, substantially improving health and quality of life.
In September 2024, Dr. Faiz was honoured with the ACEEU Triple E Awards - Asia Pacific Sustainability Leader of the Year 2024 - Special Recognition, celebrating his exceptional contributions to sustainability in higher education. He is an active member of several professional bodies, including the American Chemical Society and the International Water Association, reflecting his commitment to advancing global water sustainability.
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Articles:
From Scarcity to Sustainability: Providing Clean Water Solutions to UMK and Beyond
Mario Molteni
Professor of Corporate Strategy at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan, Italy), Rector’s Delegate for Business Relations, founder of ALTIS and CEO of E4Impact Foundation, E4Impact Foundation
Mario Molteni is Full Professor of Corporate Strategy at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan, Italy) and Rector’s Delegate for Business Relations.
He is the founder of ALTIS (Graduate School Business & Society) at the same university, an international research and education institution for sustainability and entrepreneurship, where he has been Director from 2005 to 2015. He also started the Sustainability Makers, the Italian association of professionals who work in the field of sustainability in companies and consulting firms.
He is CEO of E4Impact Foundation, a Cattolica University spin-off promoted by several leading Italian companies, for fostering impact entrepreneurship in Africa, in partnership with local Universities, that currently operates in 20 African countries. For this initiative, in 2015 was named Senior Ashoka Fellow in Africa.
He is author of more the 150 publications on Sustainability, Corporate strategy, Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Entrepreneurship.
He has lectured in Corporate Strategy and Corporate Social Responsibility on many Master’s Programs (Cattolica University, SDA Bocconi, ENI Corporate University, Publitalia, Angelicum).
He has performed the role of independent director on the board of Italian listed companies.
Articles:
Entrepreneurial education in Africa: the E4Impact case
Glen Murphy
Director, QUT Entrepreneurship
Glen is an Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurshipand recognised leader in the area of technology enabled learning and teaching. He has a strong track-record of developing innovative, applied pedagogical curriculum solutions in higher-education contexts. Formerly the QUT MBA Director, Glen brings significant experience in developing and delivering innovative learning to QUT Entrepreneruship.
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Articles:
Entrepreneurship for the Real World at Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Daniela Nömeyer
Head of Department for Quality Management, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
Daniela Nömeyer studied social and cultural anthropology at the University of Vienna. She is currently head of department for quality management at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria and a lecturer for quality management. Her research focuses on the interactions between universities and society and the strategic development and impact measurement of the “Third Mission”.
Articles:
Carrying the Third Mission Weight Requires Many Shoulders: Can Austria Learn from the German Approach?
Carlos Olivares
Higher Education Consultant,
Carlos Olivares, Ph.D., is a higher education consultant based in Chile, with 35 years in higher education. As an academic and senior manager in different universities and an international civil servant in the Inter-American Development Bank in the US, he held leadership roles at all levels of education in several countries in the region.
In the last eight years, he has worked actively as a consultant for a total of 26 different national and international organizations, including international institutions, governments, and universities throughout the region.
During his years of work in the field of education, he participated actively in the design and implementation of different programs in various countries related to the development and establishment of public policies in the sector, modernization and establishment of quality assurance systems in education, preparation of internationalization models and their implementation, as well as promoting processes of improvement in governance and developing policies and mechanisms to foster strategic direction in sector institutions. A topic of particular interest has been the link between University and Productive Sector, including startups through technological transformation. In addition, he has taught many training activities and provided technical assistance to the higher authorities of ministries, vice-ministries, and universities throughout the region.
As a consultant, he expanded the scope of his work at the Vocational Technical level in aspects such as organization, creation of remedial programs, design and construction of internal quality assurance systems in face-to-face and virtual systems, strategic planning, and follow-up of graduates. Likewise, he has participated in several lectures and congresses and served as a peer reviewer in universities from eight countries, assessing institutional quality from all perspectives.
Articles:
In a New Technological Environment: Quality Assurance Systems for Higher Education in Latin America
Theodoros Papaioannou
Director of Academic Affairs, Study in Greece
Theodoros Papaioannou earned a Master's degree in Philosophy and Sociology in France. His PhD dissertation, which explores the impact of the Internet on Greek society, is a an avant-garde research that combines philosophy, technology, anthropology, and sociology. In addition to his professional writings, he has authored a book of poetry and a novel. In 2019, he joined Study in Greece as the Academic Affairs director.
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Articles:
Combining Technology and Culture – Greek Higher Education Goes International
Kathryn Penaluna
Associate Professor, Director of the International Institute for Creative Entrepreneurial Development (UWTSD-IICED) and University’s Head of Enterprise, University of Wales Trinity Saint David
A former bank manager, Associate Professor Dr. Kathryn Penaluna is based at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, ACEEU’s European Entrepreneurial University of the Year.
Here she leads research through her Directorship of the International Institute for Creative Entrepreneurial Development (UWTSD-IICED). Kathryn is also the University’s Head of Enterprise and helps to develop programmes that are well informed by her extensive network of alumni. Asking alumni for insights and advice is just one thing that she learned from working in the University’s design department, who as she explains, sit behind many of the successes that the University have enjoyed.
Through UWTSD-IICED, Kathryn has formally reviewed research at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, written policy and practice guidance for the OECD and as one of the cases that informed the development of the EU Joint Research Centre’s EntreComp Framework, led a number of related Erasmus+ projects. Her university is consistently ranked highly for active graduate businesses and their survival rates, and according to Government data (HEBCIS), are currently the UK’s number 1 in both these areas.
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Articles:
Forty Years of Entrepreneurship at UWTSD
Drivers and Enablers: Learning from Creative Thinking Experts
Harshitha Polathula
Junior International Project Officer,
Harshitha Polathula is an MSc. Development Economics graduate with unique work experience designing solutions across different socio-economic landscapes in the Indian development sector. In her current role at ACEEU in Münster, her work is focused on the research and quality assurance of Erasmus + EU projects in topics such as female entrepreneurship, community enterprise development, rural resilience and digital education.
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Articles:
Bridging Gaps in Meeting Societal Needs
James Ransom
Independent Higher Education Researcher,
James is an independent higher education researcher, and has recently worked with the British Council, the Royal Society and the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education. He is a PhD candidate at UCL Institute of Education, a Research Affiliate at the University of Rwanda, and an Associate at Yorkshire Universities, and previously worked for Universities UK and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. His research focus is on the relationship between universities and place.
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Articles:
Why Do Most University Impact Studies Fail to Adequately Assess Universities’ Engagement with Communities?
Samrat Ray
Researcher, Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University (Russia)
Samrat Ray is currently doing research in economics in the Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University in Russia. His research interests cover a range of topics, including entrepreneurship, innovation, gender studies, women in business and leadership, and feminist theory.
ResearchGate Profile
Articles:
COVID-19 Highlights the Role of the Entrepreneurial University in India
Angelo Romasanta
Innovation Researcher, ESADE Business School
Angelo Romasanta is a postdoctoral researcher at ESADE Business School, involved in two projects coordinated by CERN. First is ATTRACT, a 20M EUR initiative aiming to commercialize technologies by the largest research infrastructures in Europe. The second one is the Science Mesh which aims to connect the various cloud services across Europe to facilitate international collaborations. Previously, he did his PhD at the Science, Business and Innovation faculty at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, studying the adoption and commercialization of technologies in the pharmaceutical industry.
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Articles:
Deep Tech and the Role of Universities
From Assessing Impact to Making an Impact
Salil Sahadevan
Education Officer, University Grants Commission
Salil works on the intersection of management, higher education, and education futures. He is particularly interested in alternative pedagogy, affordable education models, and learning experience design. He has written for Current Science, The Management Accountant, University World News, Deccan Herald, and The Hindu, among others.
Salil holds a doctoral degree in Strategic Management and Masters in Business with experience of two decades in teaching, research, and administration in higher education. On the official side, he works with the University Grants Commission, one of the regulatory bodies of higher education in India. His research and writing represents personal views and inquiries.
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Creator Economy: Imperatives and Challenges for Higher Education
Dr. Pablo Vera Salazar
Rector of the University of Magdalena, University of Magdalena
Dr. Pablo Vera Salazar is a Professor of the Faculty of Engineering at the Universidad del Magdalena (Colombia) in Organization, Leadership, and Innovation. Currently, he is the chancellor of this university. His professional experience is focused on university management, where he has held positions as Head of Planning and Vice-chancellor of Outreach.
Dr. Pablo Vera Salazar is a Civil Engineer, MBA, with a Ph.D. in Business Management from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, with a scholarship from the Carolina Foundation. His doctoral thesis was entitled "Organizational Factors as Determinants of the Impact of Cooperation with Companies. A Study in Latin American Universities".
Dr. Pablo Vera Salazar is a son of the Colombian public education; he was a student leader and has been the first Unimagdalena graduate to hold the position of Chancellor of the Universidad del Magdalena for two terms (2016-2020 and 2020-2024).
Articles:
Talento Magdalena
V. Santhakumar
Professor, Azim Premji University (Bangalore, India)
Professor V. Santhakumar is currently teaching Political Economy, Education and Development at Azim Premji University (Bangalore, India). Previously, he carried out post-doctoral research at the Wageningen Agricultural University (Netherlands) and Vanderbilt University (USA). He received the research medal and the outstanding research award of the Global Development Network. Santhakumar has worked on a number of consultant assignments and/or research projects funded by the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, UNEP, UNDP, CIDA and Azim Premji Foundation in India, Cambodia, Tajikistan, China, Palestine, Laos, Bangladesh, Brazil and Indonesia and on regional and global issues.
Articles:
Can Indian Universities Tackle Challenges to Deliver Social Impact?
Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Segers
Acting Dean of Business, PXL University of Applied Sciences
Prof. dr. Jean-Pierre Segers is the acting dean of Business at PXL University of Applied Sciences. He is a visiting professor at Riga Technical University – Faculty of Engineering Economics & Management (Latvia) and a research fellow at Université de Liège (HEC-ULg). He is the founder of StudentStartUP at PXL.
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Articles:
Universities - Entrepreneurial and Sustainable. Best of Both Worlds?
Nikolai Shmelev
Project Development Advisor, ACEEU
Nikolai Shmelev is Project Development Advisor at ACEEU (Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities). He writes on the topics of innovation, internationalisation and entrepreneurship in higher education, university-industry partnerships, community engagement of institutions and the 21st century skills. He also conducts interviews for and works with contributors to the ACEEU’s Spotlight online magazine.
Articles:
Prejudice-Driven Challenges of
Entrepreneurship Education Limit its Impacts
Dr. Asim Siddiqui
Assistant Prof, Azim Premji University
Dr. Asim Siddiqui is a faculty of Philosophy and Development at the Azim Premji University. His research interest lies in Liberation philosophy drawing on South American liberation thought and South Asian anti-caste thinkers for deepening democracy and social justice. He collaborates with several youth focused organizations to facilitate critical thinking and capacity building workshops.
Articles:
University as an active agent of Change: building a culture of responsibility
Laura-Jane Silverman
Head of LSE Generate, London School of Economics LSE
I get to spend my waking hours alongside the best and brightest socially driven entrepreneurs at LSE, leading the entrepreneurship centre at the School here in London as well as our global start-up hubs. I manage LSE Generate which is an international community of innovators who can engage with our year-round programme, seek mentorship, funding and a home where they are equipped to go out and solve some of society's most pressing problems. Prior to LSE I ran my own careers and recruitment consultancy focussed on climate change and before that I worked in TV. Many moons ago, I studied languages at Cambridge Uni. I am passionate about parent-tech, and any innovation that clearly contributes to a better tomorrow. I also quite like my kids, spider plants before they got cool, mulled wine in a mug and Liverpudlians.
Articles:
A recipe for success: Everyone has to be in it to win it
Shannon Skinner
Student, Colorado School of Mines
Shannon Skinner is a current undergraduate student at the Colorado School of Mines. While studying to earn her degree in mechanical engineering, she has also been working part-time as an Administrative Assistant under Sid Saleh at the McNeil Centers’ Innov8X since February 2023. In her work, she specializes in social media marketing, journalism, and student connection. Apart from that Shannon is a member of the Society of Women Engineers as well as a member of both the Mines Club Tennis and Volleyball teams.
Articles:
Innov8x – the New Frontier in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Education
Professor Tele Tan
Deputy Head of School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Curtin University
John Curtin Distinguished Professor and Deputy Head of School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Curtin University Professor Tan has over 20 years of research and development experience in the field of computer vision and pattern recognition. In 2009, Tele founded the Studio for Experiential Sensing and Virtual Environment (SESVE). The studio is now used as a platform to foster research in human factors studies associated with various forms of visual analytics. Tele co-founded the Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance in 2015 to help support the transitioning of students with Autism to employment in the fast-growing IT industry. Tele is a Liverpool soccer fan.
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Unleashing the Power and Talents of Neurodiversity
Aaron Taylor
Director of Innovation Lab, Benedict College
Aaron has a passion for the economic development of the State of South Carolina and the southeast region. He has focused his legal education and professional experiences on navigating governance matters and brokering the transactions essential to building and maintaining startup companies and nonprofit organizations from early-stage to late-stage. His mission is to help businesses, companies, and organizations across the southeast adapt to this new generation of innovation primarily through strategic partnerships, prudent capital allocation, and holistic community-building. Currently, he serves as the Director of the B.E.S.T. Innovation Lab at Benedict College and has extensive experience working in entrepreneurial support organizations in various roles. He also works his own solo practice, Cedar Tree Law Firm, where he provides assistance in contractual and governance matters to entrepreneurs taking a chance to live out the life, mission, and purpose that rings most true for them.
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Pioneering Pathways: How Benedict College is Redefining Innovation Leadership through Ecosystem-building
Nita Temmerman
International Higher Education Consultant,
Nita Temmerman (PhD; MEd (Hons); BEd; BMus; ATCL; MACE) has held senior University positions in Australia including Pro Vice Chancellor Academic Quality, Pro Vice Chancellor International Partnerships and Executive Dean. She is an independent higher education consultant and invited professor to universities in Australia, the Pacific region, SE Asia and the Middle East and Academic Board Chair for 3 private higher education institutions. Nita is also an invited accreditation specialist with the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ), and international associate with the Center for Learning Innovations & Customized Knowledge Solutions (Dubai). Projects draw on expertise in organisational strategic planning, quality assurance, academic accreditation and reaccreditation, higher education policy development and review, teacher education and curriculum design and evaluation. Nita has published 14 books, over 70 scholarly papers, conducted numerous presentations in SE Asia, Middle East, Pacific, UK and USA and remains an active contributor to several education publications.
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Trust, but Verify the Words: The Importance of Site Visits as Part of
an External Academic Accreditation
University – Industry Collaborations: Gaining Impact and Driving Valuable Outcomes
Ejoe Tso
Lecturer, Institute of Information Technology (IVE Tuen Mun)
Ejoe Tso is a seasoned educational technology innovator with a passion for integrating AI and cloud computing into effective learning solutions. Recognized globally for his contributions to tech-driven educational reforms, Ejoe continues to inspire educators and students alike. For collaborations or insights, contact Ejoe at ejoemvp@gmail.com.
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Articles:
Innovating Education: From Classroom Tech to Societal Impact
Anete Veidemane
Researcher, Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS)
Anete Veidemane (MSc), a graduate of Master of Research and Innovation in Higher Education, works
as a researcher at the Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS) in the Netherlands since
2018. Her work entails projects centered around embedding sustainability in academic departments
(e.g., DECODE project), developing new indicators on social inclusion and education for sustainable
development (U‐Multirank project), and piloting a European framework for community engagement
(TEFCE project) as well as a European‐wide comparative policy research. Before joining CHEPS, Anete
interned at the UN and OECD.
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Embedding Sustainability in Academia: Deans as Change Makers
Dr Natalie Walsh
Director of Entrepreneurial Development, University of Galway
Dr Natalie Walsh is a leading figure in innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Galway, where she serves as the Director of Entrepreneurial Development. She is the co-founder of IdeasLab, the university's innovation and entrepreneurship hub. With a strong background in higher education and business development, Dr Walsh has been instrumental in fostering collaborations between academia and industry. Under her leadership, IdeasLab has grown into a dynamic space where students, industry professionals, and early-stage entrepreneurs come together to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
Dr Walsh is passionate about nurturing future entrepreneurs and innovators. She has spearheaded initiatives that bridge the gap between university and commercial success, working with leading companies like Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Liberty IT and Cisco, to create meaningful industry partnerships. A strong advocate for experiential learning, she has designed programs that equip students with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving job market, particularly in fields like technology, healthcare, and the arts.
In addition to her role at IdeasLab, Dr Walsh frequently speaks at conferences and events on the subjects of innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of work, making her a well-respected voice in both the academic and business communities. Dr Walsh is also a lifelong learner and currently undertaking a faculty innovation fellowship with Stanford University.
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Empathy-Driven Innovation: How the University of Galway is Leading Design Thinking
Marina Watanabe
Associate Director of Mosaic, Northeastern University
Marina Watanabe, PhD is the Associate Director of Mosaic, a coalition of student-led experiential entrepreneurship organizations at the Northeastern University Center for Entrepreneurship Education. She is passionate about making entrepreneurship accessible and empowering student innovators to enact positive change.
Before joining Northeastern, Marina was the Creativity and Entrepreneurship Senior Fellow and interim Program Manager at Harvard University’s Lemann Program on Creativity and Entrepreneurship. She helped design and implement student startup incubators, pitch competitions, and entrepreneurship course curricula. Additionally, she was an Education Innovation Fellow with the Harvard Initiative for Learning and Teaching, where she mentored and distributed funding to Harvard and MIT startup teams working to improve the field of education.
Marina earned her PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Harvard University. Her graduate research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital focused on discovering novel combination therapies in the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer.
Articles:
Student-Led Experiential Entrepreneurship: Building Life-Long Skills and Success
Linda A. Wendling
Senior Manager, Academic Engagement – Colleges of Business and IT, Western Governors University (USA)
Linda Wendling earned her BA in French with a minor in political science from Rutgers College, and her JD from Seton Hall School of Law. After leaving the active practice of law in 2001, she turned to academia. She joined the faculty of Union County College in Cranford, New Jersey as the Founding Program Director for Paralegal Studies. Living by the belief in lifelong learning, after moving to North Carolina in 2007, she pursued a Master’s degree in Constitutional History at North Carolina State University. Additionally, Linda earned an LL.M. in Environmental Law in January 2016 from Vermont Law School. The culmination of her studies was an appointment to the Paris Climate Change Conference (COP21) as a U.N. delegate to assist Myanmar in preparing their position papers for international negotiations. Linda is currently employed at Western Governors University as the Senior Manager of Academic Engagement for the Business and Information Technology Colleges. She has authored three legal textbooks on Paralegal Practice, Legal Ethics, and Contract Law and, as an Earth Law Center volunteer associate, is a contributing editor for the 2020 Earth Law textbook from Wolters- Kluwer. Her other professional pursuits include serving as both a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Examiner and an American Health Care Association Master Examiner, North Carolina Regional Representative, Mid-Atlantic Region of the Association for Continuing Higher Education, and an Earth Law Associate at the Earth Law Center.
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Lessons from an Academic Mountaineer:
Exploring the Terrain and Getting a Grip on Competency-Based Online Education
Prof. Hsiao-Wei Yuan
Vice President for International Affairs, National Taiwan University
Prof. Hsiao-Wei Yuan is the Vice President for International Affairs at National Taiwan University (NTU) and Director of the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Center for Global Affairs and Science Engagement. Prof. Hsiao-Wei Yuan joined the faculty at NTU after she obtained her Ph.D. degree in Natural Resources from Cornell University, USA. In nearly 30 years of her illustrious career as a champion of international education and biodiversity conservation, Professor Yuan has received numerous awards and recognitions for her research, teaching, and services. Throughout her career as an advocate for international higher education, she also served as Director for International Affairs of the National Applied Research Laboratories and CEO of the Foundation for International Cooperation for Higher Education of Taiwan. Prof. Yuan has not only been the principal investigator for many projects commissioned by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Forestry Bureau, but also received the recognition of outstanding contributions in forestry and nature preservation by the Council of Agriculture. Dedicated to developing the future talents for Taiwan's forestry research and management, she also received the Distinguished All-English Teaching Award, Outstanding Teaching Award, Distinguished Teacher Award, and Distinguished University Service Award from NTU on numerous occasions.
Articles:
Envisioning International Terrain of Digitalization in Higher Education
