2025 UNESCO CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

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?Key Note Speakers	??
?	Dr. Mohammed Elmeski is a senior advisor, educator, and international development expert in Comparative and International Education. He currently serves as Chargé de Mission ?ducation at the Office of the Head of Government in Morocco, where he advises on national education policy across K–12, higher education, and vocational training. He also chairs the Governance Board of Africa Voices Dialogue, a pan-African platform dedicated to inclusive education policy dialogue. Read More
Pre- conference Workshop Facilitators	?
????	?Dr. Darla K. Deardorff is the chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competence at Stellenbosch 肆客足球. In addition, she is a research fellow at Duke 肆客足球 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 肆客足球's Global Education Think Tank and Future of Learning Institute. ? Read mor?e??
?	?Werner de Wit, Stellenbosch 肆客足球, South Africa. Werner is the Senior Programme Manager of the Unit for Student Mobility at Stellenbosch 肆客足球 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
????	?Ms Nosipiwo Matiwane, Stellenbosch 肆客足球, 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 肆客足球. 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 肆客足球, United States Dr. Jennice McCafferty is an associate professor in the College of Education at Missouri State 肆客足球 and serves as the Dean's Fellow for Global Education. She earned her PhD in learning, teaching, and curriculum from the 肆客足球 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 肆客足球'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 肆客足球, 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 肆客足球, 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 肆客足球 of the Western Cape, a university for Black students. She completed her MPhil in Intercultural Communication and PhD at Stellenbosch 肆客足球 – an institution she had not been allowed to study at during apartheid. ?Read More??

Parallel Session Speakers:?	?
?	?Dr Precious Simba, Stellenbosch 肆客足球, South Africa ?Dr Precious Simba is a university teacher and researcher dedicated to exploring the transformative power of education. As a teacher in the Department of Education Policy Studies she convenes the Philosophy of Education module. With a foundation in gender based and after-school programming, her journey began with founding a girls' education initiative in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. ?Read More
?	Dr ?Addamms Mututa, 肆客足球 of Johannesburg, South Africa? ?Addamms Mututa is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Communication and Media, 肆客足球 of Johannesburg. He holds a joint PhD (Film Studies / African Literature) from the 肆客足球 of Tübingen, Germany, and the 肆客足球 of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He researches African cinema and literature, post-apartheid cultures, critical theory, and postcolonialism.?
????	Professor Joanne Hughes, Queen's 肆客足球, 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 肆客足球, Morocco Abderrahman Hassi holds a Ph.D. from the 肆客足球 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 肆客足球, 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, 肆客足球 of Johannesburg, South Africa Emnet Tadesse Woldegiorgis is a Professor and Director at the Ali Mazrui Center for Higher Education Studies (AMCHES), 肆客足球 of Johannesburg. He holds a PhD from the 肆客足球 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 肆客足球 (Norway), Tampere 肆客足球 (Finland), and Aveiro 肆客足球 (Portugal). ?Read More
?	Dr ?Norbert Ngowi, Mzumbe 肆客足球, 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 肆客足球, 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 肆客足球 of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. ?Read More ???
?	Sara Gregson, Antioch 肆客足球, 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 肆客足球 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 肆客足球, 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 肆客足球. 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, 肆客足球 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 肆客足球 of Technology, Bloemfontein, South Africa ?Mr Leolyn Jackson has over 30 years' experience in higher education, serving in senior academic and leadership roles at UWC and CUT. A past president of IEASA, he has been active in global networks including AIEA, ANIE, APAIE, EAIE, FAUBAI, and NAFSA. His work has focused on comprehensive internationalisation, and he has led initiatives in teaching, learning, research, and cultural exchange. Now retired, he consults on higher education internationalisation worldwide.
?	?Ms Chevon Slambee, 肆客足球 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 肆客足球 of Fort Hare, where she was a key stakeholder in the accreditation of the master's by dissertation qualification. Read More
?	Dr. Divinia Jithoo, Durban 肆客足球 of Technology (DUT), South Africa ?Dr. Divinia Jithoo is a Specialist in International Education at the Durban 肆客足球 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 肆客足球. She holds a PhD in Higher Education Studies from the 肆客足球 of Western Cape. Her research has highlighted global structural dynamics of academic cross border collaboration.
?	?Ms Eva Haug, Amsterdam 肆客足球 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 肆客足球 of the Free State, South Africa. Eva's is an elected member of the EAIE steering group that focuses on Teaching, Learning and Curriculum. ?Read More
?	?Ms Marleen Henny, Amsterdam 肆客足球 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. ?Read More?
?	Prof Pia Stalder, 肆客足球 of Applied Sciences, Switzerland ?Pia Stalder is Professor for Intercultural Management at Bern 肆客足球 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 Houphou?t-Boigny, Abidjan, C?te 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 Houphou?t-Boigny, Abidjan, C?te d'Ivoire.
?	Amani Charles Yokoli, NGO Agir, C?te d'Ivoire ?Amani Charles Yokoli is a consultant-trainer and teacher-researcher. Amani runs the NGO Agir, Innover pour le Développement Durable (AIDD) in C?te d'Ivoire.
?	Dr ?Colette Djadeu Nguemedyam, Ecole Supérieure des Sciences et Techniques de l'Information et de la Communication (ESSTIC -肆客足球 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 -肆客足球 of Yaoundé II, Cameroon).
?	?Ms Huba Boshoff, The Knowledge Collab, South Africa For more than two decades, Huba Boshoff has built a career in the higher education sector with a strong focus on fostering global partnerships that create meaningful impact. Her professional expertise spans student development, leadership development, project and programme development, resource mobilisation, academic accreditation, quality assurance, and in particular internationalisation of higher education. Read More
?	?Ms Helin B?ckman Kartal, Upsala 肆客足球, Sweden Helin B?ckman Kartal is based at Uppsala 肆客足球, Sweden, where she works at the Unit for Research and Partnership Support. Her work focuses on building strategic international collaborations, with particular engagement in South Africa–Sweden university cooperation through the South Africa–Sweden 肆客足球 Forum (SASUF), as well as supporting broader trilateral and multilateral academic partnerships involving African, European, and Asian partners. Read More
?	Dr Kevin Ncube, Cape Peninsula 肆客足球 of Technology, South Africa Dr Kevin Ncube is a Senior Lecturer in the Marketing Department at the Cape Peninsula 肆客足球 of Technology. He specialises in Consumer Behaviour & Marketing Research and 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.
?	?Dawit Daniel, Dire Dawa 肆客足球, Ethiopia Bio to follow??
?	Mr ?Nidal Benali, International 肆客足球 of Rabat?, Morocco Nidal Benali is a Moroccan youth leader and international affairs professional. He works at the International 肆客足球 of Rabat, coordinating exchange programs, student mobility, and international partnerships. Recognized by the United Nations Secretary-General as one of the world's top 20 young leaders making an impact in their communities, he actively contributes to youth engagement initiatives at the global level. He also serves as an ICESCO Peace Ambassador, promoting intercultural dialogue and peacebuilding. Alongside his international work, he is engaged in local participation, with a strong focus on civic participation and development.
?	Maysa Abuzant, An-Najah National 肆客足球, West Bank, Palestine ?Maysa Abuzant is an English Language instructor at An-Najah National 肆客足球. 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 肆客足球, West Bank, Palestine ?Abdalkarim Zawawi is an Assistant Professor of Linguistics at An-Najah National 肆客足球. 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 肆客足球, West Bank, Palestine Alia Gilbrecht recently joined the 肆客足球 of Houston as Assistant Director of 肆客足球 Partnerships. She is also a specialist in Virtual Exchange (VE) and the founder of the VE Collaborative at An-Najah National 肆客足球.??
?	?Francesca Helm, 肆客足球 of Padova??, Italy ?Francesca Helm is Associate Professor at the 肆客足球 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 肆客足球, 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 肆客足球. Her research focuses on empowering African immigrant women through digital and intercultural leadership. Read More
?	?Prim-Rose Makhosazane Shabane (Dudu), Durban 肆客足球 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 肆客足球 of Technology, working based at the International Centre of Nonviolence (ICON). Read More
?	?Dr. Seun Bello Olamosu, Dartmouth College, USA & Nigeria 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. Read More
?	?Msakha Mona, 肆客足球 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. Read More
?	?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 肆客足球 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 肆客足球 in Rabat, Morocco Oumaima Elghazali is currently a 肆客足球 Professor Assistant of English Communication and Soft skills at ENSIAS school affiliated with Mohammed V 肆客足球 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 肆客足球. Read More
?Poster Presenters:?	?
?	Aya Anzouk, Al Akhawayn 肆客足球, Morocco My name is Aya Anzouk and I am a psychology undergraduate student at Al Akhawayn 肆客足球. 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, 肆客足球 of Pécs, Hungary ?Timea Németh, Phd, is an associate professor at the Department of Languages for Biomedical Purposes and Communication, 肆客足球 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.
?	?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. ? Read More
?	?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 肆客足球. Rosanne specializes in translating complex academic approaches into practical educational interventions. Read More
?	?Dr. Sandy Marshall, Elon University, USA ?Dr. Sandy Marshall is an Associate Professor of Geography at Elon 肆客足球, 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. Read More
?	Dr. Abdalkarim Zawawi, An-Najah National 肆客足球 in Nablus, Palestine ?Dr. Abdalkarim Zawawi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at An-Najah National 肆客足球 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 肆客足球, where his research focused on syntactic priming in oral production among L1 and L2 English speakers. Read More
?	?Dr. Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler, Elon 肆客足球, USA ?Dr. Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler is Director of the Center for Research on Global Engagement (CRGE) and a professor of psychology at Elon 肆客足球. 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). e
?	?Dr. Waseem-Ahmed Bin-Kasim , Elon 肆客足球, USA Dr. Waseem-Ahmed Bin-Kasim is an Assistant Professor of History at Elon 肆客足球, 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 肆客足球 African History and Culture series.
?	Dr Divinia Jithoo, Durban 肆客足球 of Technology, South Africa ?Divinia Jithoo is a Specialist in International Education at the Durban 肆客足球 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. Read More
?	?Normah Zondo, 肆客足球 of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa Normah Zondo is the Executive Director of the Corporate Relations Division at the 肆客足球 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. Read More
?	?Sameha Bouhalhoul, Amsterdam 肆客足球 of Applied Sciences (HvA), The Netherlands Sameha Bouhalhoul, with 15 years of experience in the Social Work program at the Amsterdam 肆客足球 of Applied Sciences (HvA), is dedicated to promoting inclusion, gender equality, and social justice. In her roles as lecturer, academic advisor, and project manager. Read More
?	Dr. Amelia Dietrich, The Forum on Education Abroad, USA? Dr. Amelia Dietrich is the Senior Director for Research and Publications at The Forum on Education Abroad and Managing Editor of Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad. She leads original research initiatives and supports the publication of scholarship on best practices in education abroad, maximizing the impact of education abroad for students, institutions and communities, and identifying promising practices on the leading edge. Read More
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肆客足球

2025 UNESCO CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Pre- conference Workshop Facilitators

Parallel Session Speakers:?