Conference Comittee

PhD/EdD Coordinator

Director Centre for Research for Digital Education,

Faculty of Education,

British University in Dubai (BUiD)

UAE

Prof. Christopher Hill has worked in international higher education since 2008; spending 9 years in Malaysia and 8 in Dubai. Christopher is the Vice President for the UAE Centre for Academic Integrity, an IC Global Fellow, OBHE Associate, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Specialist for the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, an Adjunct Researcher for the Higher Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan and External Examiner for the University of Birmingham in Dubai.

Prof. Hill’s research interests include TNE and its impact on national systems; the role of online learning; and the development of international education and the student experience in the global arena. He has worked on education projects; to enhance university links between Thailand and the UK; developing guidelines for TNE in the Philippines; designing a strategic framework for higher education reform in Pakistan; with universities to develop PhD supervisors and research capacity in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; in Sub Saharan Africa to evaluate student employability and skill development; and in Taiwan to support internationalization of teaching and learning and the provision of EMI at key institutions. Prof. Hill has delivered academic training courses on academic writing, publication, internationalisation, classroom management, curriculum development, leadership, partnership and capacity building in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Prof. Hill supports this work with conference and journal publications, research grants, teaching and research and is a regular keynote speaker on the subject of international education, cultural teaching, TNE and institutional development. Christopher is a member of eight international journal editorial boards and a peer reviewer for a further ten journals.

Prof. Hill hosts the Think Education podcast that provides a platform for reflection and discussion on research practice and teaching and learning within higher education.

Conference Convener

Founder & CEO

R & R Knowledge Solutions,

Sri Lanka

Arshad Refai is the Founder and CEO of R&R Knowledge Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, an organization committed to leveraging knowledge for career development and community enhancement, both locally and globally. Arshad has an MBA from the University of Northampton, UK, a Post Graduate Diploma in Strategy and Innovation and a Managerial Diploma in Business Administration from Pearson, UK. He is currently reading for his PhD in Strategic Management at Lincoln University College, Malaysia.

His professional journey is equally impressive, having transitioned from a Fund Administrator to assume pivotal leadership roles in the conference industry. He has served as the Head of Research and Planning, Head of Business Intelligence and Head of Media and Marketing with nearly a decade of experience and over 75 international conferences under his belt, Arshad brings a wealth of expertise to this platform. He was also the Head of International Curriculum at Knowledge Planet powered by Physics Wallah, Gulf’s Largest Network of Test Preparation Centers with 13 branches in the UAE.

Arshad also serves as a Knowledge Exchange Specialist in the board of Associate Consultants at K&O Global Consultants based in the US and is a also a Certified Digital Marketing Specialist conferred by the Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing.

Arshad is an Associate member of the Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka. He is a Consultant Coach for Public Speaking, an Instructor for IELTS, Tutor for Advanced Level Economics and Business Studies, a Conference Convener and a Content Writer.