Dagmar Archan heads the Center for Teaching Excellence at CAMPUS 02 University of Applied Sciences and has been a full-time lecturer at CAMPUS 02 since 2007. She also conducts workshops for university teachers on topics such as media didactics, assessment, and student engagement. Her particular interest lies in the research and implementation of technology-enhanced teaching and learning environments with a focus on AI and AI competencies.

Mike Bernd is responsible for the Campus and Digital Learning Content team in the AI and Future Skills division at Stifterverband. Working with more than 60 higher education partners, his team develops learning opportunities in the field of data and AI, particularly through the AI Campus, and advises on the integration of content into education, training, and continuing education scenarios.

Previously, he worked at the University of Shanghai for Science & Technology, where, as deputy project manager on the German side, he developed an international learning platform for use in higher education teaching and learning contexts. He is intensively involved in issues relating to the recognition of micro-credentials in formal education contexts and is a passionate advocate of open education

Thomas Canniot is an instructional designer with a passion for innovation and new educational technologies. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, he has supported the transformation of teaching practices by integrating digital technology and designing innovative learning spaces.

At NEOMA Business School, he has contributed to the structuring of the Learning Lab, led virtual and augmented reality projects, and supported professors in adopting hybrid and innovative teaching methods.

Committed to reflecting on the evolution of higher education, Thomas actively participates in dedicated committees and conferences, such as those of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles and the Conférence des Directeurs des Écoles Françaises de Management.

Passionate about new technologies, music, and running, he combines creativity and rigor to rethink the educational experience.

Daniela Craciun is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education Policy at the University of Twente, the Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS). Before that, she was a lecturer at Bard College Berlin and a tutor and academic advisor in the OLIve Refugee Education Initiatives (Germany). During her Ph.D. at Central European University (Hungary), she was also visiting scholar in Myanmar, Brazil, and USA.

Frea van Dooremaal is an Instructional Designer at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences. In her work, she focuses on the responsible use of technology in higher education, the design of transdisciplinary learning experiences, and the integration of study crafting into educational practice. Her work also addresses contemporary challenges such as fostering student engagement and promoting human-centered approaches to teaching and learning.

As an educational specialist, Frea places people at the heart of her design philosophy. This human-centered perspective also informs her involvement in the Erasmus+ project FLAIR, where she explores the role of generative AI in education, as well as in other innovative projects.

Jacqueline Gasser-Beck heads the Teaching Innovation Lab at the University of St. Gallen, where she and her team design innovative teaching formats to strengthen digital literacy among faculty and students. She also chairs the nationwide “AI in Teaching” Special Interest Group (SIG), bringing together Swiss higher education institutions on questions of AI and academic practice.

With a background in law from the University of Zurich and Harvard Law School, Jacqueline first served as Executive Director at the HSG Law School before joining Swissnex Boston, where she led projects showcasing Swiss excellence in higher education across the US.

Beyond academia, Jacqueline is a mother of two teenagers, an active politician, and an avid sports and pop-culture enthusiast — always on the lookout for creative projects and new adventures.

Gerhard Geissler is a tenured Senior Lecturer (post-doc) at the Institute for Business Education, Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU). His expertise lies in business management and the didactics of business management, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship education, developing systems competencies for managing organizational complexity, and examination didactics.

With an academic background in political science, global history, and business education, he has actively contributed to several international ERASMUS+ projects aimed at advancing educational development and didactic practices. Beyond academia, Gerhard Geissler enjoys exploring the world in his spare time, with a special passion for traveling through West African countries.

Dr Loretta Goff is the Academic Integrity Education Officer at University College Cork (UCC) where she creates, manages, and delivers training and resources on academic integrity, academic misconduct, ethical use of generative AI, and AI and assessment for both students and staff at UCC.

Loretta also sits on the Steering Committee of Ireland’s National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN), is part of the AI Advisory Group for Ireland's Higher Education Authority (HEA), and is a member of the European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI). She led the National Forum Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement (SATLE 2024) funded project “GenAI LEARN”, which used a students-as-partners approach to co-produce the GenAI Learning Hub open resource to support responsible and effective use of GenAI. Currently, Loretta is also participating in the FLAIR Erasmus+ project.

University of Leeds

Lecturer in Journalism Practice, School of Media and Communications 

C.D.Hartley@leeds.ac.uk 

 
Carl is a lecturer in Journalism Practice with more than 25-years' experience in broadcasting. He teaches both broadcast and digital journalism to both undergraduate and post graduate students. His teaching philosophy emphasises student-centred and active learning. He has a post-graduate certificate in academic practice and has been recognised with a Fellowship in Higher Education from Advance HE. 

In addition to his academic role, Carl is a Senior Journalist at the BBC, regularly reading the news for BBC 5 Live and other BBC radio stations. 

Monika Koller is Associate Professor and Head of the Institute for Marketing and Consumer Research at WU. She is also the Academic Director of the Executive MBA in Strategic Marketing & Sales at WU Executive Academy. In her research she currently focusses on marketing and consumer research, including customer value management, sensory marketing and consumer neuroscience. She is an enthusiastic educator combining knowledge from international research with real-world applications. She is interested in topical areas that focus on the psychology of consumers in all areas of human life, also beyond the traditional marketing domains.

Krista Lepik-Verliin, PhD is a lecturer in information science at the Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu.

Krista’s research interests are threefold. Since her PhD Thesis, she has studied library and museum communication and community development. Later, in her post-doctoral project, she has focused on knowledge workers’ practices in the context of social acceleration. This project was continued by the study on work overload among academic staff at the University of Tartu. Throughout the years, Krista has been curious about developments in information literacy, publishing, and giving lectures in this field. Krista is currently involved in a working group focusing on using AI chatbots in students’ written assignments. 

Senior Learning Consultant and AI Strategy Implementation Lead, CBS

At Copenhagen Business School, Mathias leads the implementation of generative AI in education, shaping policy, competence development, and innovation projects. He has over a decade of experience working with education, learning, and digital transformation, with a strong focus on social learning theory and practice.

Mathias is also the founder of EdTalk, a forum for cross-sector dialogue on the future of education and AI. With a background in journalism and media innovation, he brings a unique perspective on how institutions, organizations, and individuals learn and adapt in practice.

Eva Marckhgott is Assistant Professor at the Institute for Marketing and Consumer Research at WU Vienna, passionate about bridging research, teaching, and practice. She believes that understanding consumers is vital for businesses, organizations, and society. Her research explores topics such as packaging, sustainable consumer behavior and mental health. As an award-winning lecturer with industry experience in market research and CRM, she is committed to creating applied, research-informed learning experiences that prepare students for real-world challenges.

Miruna Mazurencu Marinescu Pele, Ph.D., MBA, holds the position of Full Professor in Statistics and Econometrics at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, within the Department of Statistics and Econometrics, Faculty of Cybernetics, Statistics and Economic Informatics. In addition to her extensive academic qualifications, she has earned an MBA from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers in Paris.

Dr. Mazurencu Pele has been honoured as a Fulbright grantee and has held a post-doctoral fellowship with the Romanian Academy of Sciences. She serves as a local expert for prestigious organizations such as the World Bank, European Investment Bank, FAO, and PHARE, and has directed numerous national and international projects. Her scholarly work, which includes a plethora of articles in both international and national journals, focuses on the multidimensional analysis of economic phenomena, econometric modelling of ICT-based business performance and valuation, as well as quantitative methods in regional science, smart cities, and AI applications in social sciences. She has also graduated a post-doctoral course on Business Sustainability Management from University of Cambridge.

University of Leeds

Learning Technologist - Arts, Humanities and Cultures

D.C.McKinnie@leeds.ac.uk 

Dan McKinnie is a Learning Technologist with over 15 years’ experience in education, including a decade teaching game design and graphics in further education. Passionate about leveraging emerging technologies to enhance teaching and learning, Dan focuses on creating engaging, inclusive, and impactful learning experiences for students.  

Holding a PGCE, a BA in Animation and Design, and a PGDip in Sustainability and Adaptation -  Dan combines creative expertise with a strong pedagogical foundation. His background in teaching informs his current role as learning technologist, ensuring technology complements pedagogy to deliver meaningful outcomes for learners across diverse disciplines. 

Transmedia Arts, University of Applied Arts Vienna

Martina Menegon (she/her, Italy, 1988) is an artist, curator, educator, and researcher based in Vienna. Since 2009, her work has combined 3D scanning, game engines, immersive and interactive technologies, and glitched self-portraiture to explore embodiment as a poetic and subversive strategy for reshaping the self in digital and extended realities.
She is Senior Artist and Lecturer at the Department of Transmedia Arts, University of Applied Arts Vienna, where she teaches “Digital Design and Virtuality,” and a PhD researcher in the inter-university program Transformation Studies: Art x Science (University of Applied Arts Vienna and Johannes Kepler University Linz). Her research investigates chimeric glitched becomings as radical figurations of selfhood shaped through digital self-portraiture, and informed by cyberfeminist, queer, and glitch-feminist theory. In her teaching, she integrates experimental XR practices with cyber-glitch-feminist and posthumanist theories, exploring glitched identities, extended selves, and hybrid bodies through avatar creation and world-building.

martinamenegon.xyz/
instagram.com/martina.menegon/

Weibel Institute for Digital Cultures, University of Applied Arts Vienna

Valerie Messini is a registered architect, digital artist and Senior Scientist at the Peter Weibel Research Institute for Digital Cultures. Her research dives into the concept of nothingness, examining how digital technologies and design tools impact space, identity, and perception, alongside the role of immersive media and virtual space in shaping our understanding and interaction with the digital realm. She teaches the interdisciplinary Seminars “OTHER MATTER Exploring Spatial and Curatorial Strategies with Augmented Reality” and  “Enzyklopädie der Medien” on Peter Weibel’s writings and media theory. In 2022-23 she was co-teaching design studios at the IKA-Institute for Art and Architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. As a senior lecturer at the ./studio3 – Institute for Experimental Architecture, University of Innsbruck (2013 to 2019, 2022), she was teaching VR seminars and novel digital artistic strategies, multiple design courses, supervising master’s theses and organizing multiple excursions and events.

base.uni-ak.ac.at/showroom/valerie-messini-YgP3

www.instagram.com/valiemessini/

University of Leeds

Assistant Learning Technologist - Social Sciences

D.J.Millea@leeds.ac.uk 

Danielle has 26 years of experience working and studying in higher education. Having completed a Masters in Creative Technology focusing on digital technologies, Danielle merged her work in filmmaking education with the emerging technology of 360-degree video to complete a PhD in 360° Video as a learning tool for filmmaking. 

Danielle is passionate about fairness, accessibility and working with user feedback. She likes to use graphic design skills to visually display findings and data and aims to improve educational journeys through utilising various pedagogical approaches supplemented with technologies for learning. 

Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna

Bence Pap is an architect, and has been practicing and teaching since 2011 at Studio Greg Lynn and consecutively in Studio Space Popular with Lara Lesmes and Fredrik.  Bence’s interests lie in the intersection of architecture and technology, expressed in speculative projects with new mediums. He has lectured and organized workshops focusing on the expanded notion of architecture throughout Europe. He co - teaches the seminar “Other Matter” with Valerie Messini, exploring curatorial and spatial concepts expressed with immersive and extended medias.
Bence gained his professional experience with Zaha Hadid Architects in London. In 2015 he founded the architectural office ATELIERPAP and in 2019 co-founded ARTEFACT, a practice focusing on the design and implementation of mixed-reality solutions. He studied architecture in Vienna at the Technical University and the University of Fine Arts, and received his Diploma from the University of Applied Arts in 2006.

https://base.uni-ak.ac.at/showroom/bence-pap-29Fa

atelierpap.com/
artefact.at/   

@artefact_vienna

James Parker is the Chief Technology Officer at USP College, a leading UK further education provider. In this role, he leads the college's digital transformation strategy, the "E-volution initiative," which focuses on implementing emerging technologies to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment. His expertise encompasses AI in education, learning analytics, digital assessment methods, and the strategic use of immersive learning environments.

Previously, as Vice Principal for Quality and Innovation, he specialised in reimagining pedagogy through technology and developed Continuing Professional Development (CPD) frameworks for EdTech integration that have been adopted by colleges nationwide. James holds a Masters in Marine Biology from Bangor University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of Chester.

Dan Pearson is Chief Executive Officer of USP College, with over 25 years of experience in education, Dan Pearson has established himself as a transformative leader in the sector. After earning his Strategic Leadership qualification from the University of Oxford, he has dedicated more than a decade to senior leadership positions, where his innovative approach has consistently driven improvements in educational quality and student outcomes.

Dan currently spearheads multiple cross-sector initiatives that leverage emerging technologies to address critical challenges in education. His work focuses on aligning educational delivery with evolving student needs, developing solutions to teacher shortage challenges, and strengthening inter-collegiate collaboration networks. This pioneering work has earned consecutive JISC Beacon Award finalist recognitions in 2023 and 2024.

A sought-after thought leader, Dan regularly speaks at major conferences and delivers leadership training events, sharing insights on educational innovation and digital transformation. He works closely with digital employers and technology innovators to develop cutting-edge edtech products, while also serving as a Further Education advisor to digital companies, helping bridge the gap between education and industry needs.

Committed to continuous professional development, Dan regularly pursues opportunities to expand his expertise. He recently completed an advanced certification in Artificial Intelligence through the University of Oxford, further enhancing his ability to lead educational innovation in an increasingly digital landscape.

Marina Petrova is a Senior UX and Media Learning Designer at ESMT Berlin’s Learning Innovation Lab. She designs blended, online, and immersive learning experiences, with a focus on leveraging emerging technologies such as XR to enhance management and leadership education.

Her work fuses UX design, instructional design, and media production, supporting innovative programs for executives, MBAs, and lifelong learners.

With a background in sociology and filmmaking, Marina combines creativity and evidence-based approaches to craft impactful educational products and experiences that foster engagement and practical skills.

Lilit Sargsyan holds a PhD in Philology and is an Associate Professor at Yerevan State University. She has over 25 years of experience in language education and teacher training facilitation and has received the YSU Teaching Excellence Award for her contributions to learning and teaching.
Her research interests include Comparative Typology, Neurolinguistics, Psycholinguistics, Adult Learning, and Human-Centered Learning, with a recent focus on innovative methods and the integration of AI into learning processes.
She regularly contributes to international conferences and is currently engaged in advancing critical thinking skills and assessment in AI-mediated learning in higher education.

She is an Academic Developer, Digital Learning Lead at the Centre for Academic Practice, Trinity College Dublin. Ana has been a lecturer, researcher, academic developer and academic manager for over 30 years. She led several institutional, national and international digital education initiatives in Latin America, working with the Ministries of Education, UNESCO and the Iberoamerican States Organisation (OEI).

In Trinity, Ana leads the Digital Learning and GenAI in the Teaching, Learning and Assessment plan at the Centre for Academic Practice. She teaches as part of the Sp. Certificate for T&L and other professional development initiatives. Her research interest is education and technology.

After completing a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering at Sabancı University in 2011, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ege Simge Demirel participated in various training programs and earned a Master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Yeditepe University in 2018. Following her graduation, she began her doctoral studies in Public Relations and Publicity at Marmara University in 2020. In 2024, she earned her PhD with her dissertation titled “The Impact of Sustainability on Corporate Reputation: A Study on Consumers in the Context of Social and Environmental Sustainability." She began her professional career immediately after completing her undergraduate studies in 2011, working as a short-term employee at Accenture, Citibank, and Anadolu Efes. Currently, she serves as Vice Chair of the Public Relations and Publicity Department at the Faculty of Communication at Yeditepe University. She has published articles in national and international journals on public relations, sustainability, and corporate communication.

Dr Sarah Thelen is a Lecturer in T&L Enhancement (Digital Education) and coordinates the Certificate in CPD in Digital Education at UCC, supporting those who teach (at UCC and elsewhere) to better integrate digital education tools and approaches in their teaching practice. She also leads workshops for UCC staff on aspects of digital education including

GenAI (Generative Artificial Intelligence), assessment strategies, programme coordination and design, student engagement, and learning design in addition to writing and maintaining the Assessment in the Age of AI guide. She has published work in Teaching and Learning Inquiry, New Directions in Teaching and Learning, as well as in edited collections with her current research explores questions of identity, citizenship, sociability and serendipity in online interactions, and the intersections of GenAI, assessment and research.

Based at the University of Zurich, Margherita Valle contributes to the Innovation & Digital Education team within the Education Development Department. With a background in business administration and digital learning, her work focuses on the implementation and support of technology-enhanced education projects, with a special interest in AI and the development of AI competences.

She coordinates the AI Competence Hub project, which aims to strengthen AI competences among higher education teachers, and is the co-developer of the online course Start! AI Competences (for Teaching & Learning), designed for students interested in becoming AI Coaches. In addition, she leads courses on the integration of AI in teaching, as well as on emerging technologies such as virtual reality.

Xavier Vilasis-Cardona is full professor at the Engineering Dept. at la Salle, Universitat Ramon Llull. He leads the Smart Society research group and is member of the LHCb collaboration (CERN). He is also member of the IEEE Cellular Nonlinear Networks and Array Computing Technical Committee. He is director of the Master Universitario en Data Science. He is also member of the steering committee of the Associació Catalana d'Intel·ligència Artificial.

He got a Physics Degree from Universitat de Barcelona in 1989 and a Physics PhD from Universitat de Barcelona. He is also PDG (Programa de Dirección General) by IESE. He has been FPI fellow from the Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (1990-1993), assistant professor at Universitat de Barcelona (1994), analyst at Aplicaciones en Informatica Avanzada (1994-1996) and from 1996 on he is at La Salle, Universitat Ramon Llull. He is been working in artificial intelligence for 30 years.

Berrin Yanıkkaya is a Professor of Communication Studies. She is a scholar and academic leader in the fields of sociology and communication studies. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology, a Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Communication Studies. Throughout her career, she has held leadership positions in Türkiye, New Zealand, and Cyprus. She also serves as the founding director of YU-LEARNT, the Learning and Teaching Implementation and Research Centre, and as the founding chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee at the university.

She has actively participated in international higher education initiatives, including serving on the Strategic Council of the GUNi and as Vice President for 2025. She has chaired one of the EUA Learning and Teaching TPGs in 2024 and has delivered speeches at global conferences such as QS and the IAU. She serves as a judge for the QS Education Awards since 2023 and as an external reviewer for the HE Quality Agency’s national institutional accreditation program.

Andrea Ghoneim is eDeveloper for Digital Teaching Services (Program Management and Teaching & Learning Support) at WU Vienna since 2020. Before that, she was researcher in the field of educational technologies at Danube University Krems (Austria) and held several positions in teaching and development at Egyptian universities as well as at University of Vienna. She holds a doctorate from University of Vienna.

Her current research interests are immersive learning and virtual environments and development of skills in university teaching and learning.

Hedda Guggenberger is an educational developer at WU Vienna, specializing in the professional development of teaching and learning for academics, including teacher training. She has many years of experience as a project manager working on international and national projects focusing on dropouts and teaching and learning in higher education.

As a facilitator for the European University Association's Leadership Development Program, she successfully accompanied a working group of HEI representatives. She currently coordinates and participates in the Erasmus+ project FLAIR, which aims to foster learners' readiness for AI.

Karl Ledermüller is head of Evaluation and Quality Enhancement at WU Vienna University of Economics and Business. He teaches finance and operations research.

His research focuses on applications in institutional research, focussing on predictive learning and assessment analytics (including machine learning methods) and the integration of innovative methods (such as text mining, educational data mining, psychometric methods and AI applications) in evaluation designs.

Klaus Neundlinger is Head of Research at in scope GmbH (Vienna, Austria) and has been active in higher education and professional development for many years. He has collaborated with universities, universities of applied sciences, and organizations in the design and implementation of academic courses and training programs. His research focuses on cultures of collaboration — on how people in organizations and across institutional boundaries work together to achieve shared goals. Central to his work are the relationships that develop in collaborative contexts and the question of how interactive and playful approaches can enrich learning in professional environments. He contributes to research and development projects on technology-supported learning, including Virtual and Augmented Reality applications, and explores how co-creative and experience-based methods can foster both professional and personal growth in learning communities.

Verena Schwägerl-Melchior is responsible for the Teaching Academy at Graz University of Technology and thus for the didactic training and continuing education of lecturers.

She holds a PhD in Romance Studies (Linguistics) from the LMU Munich and is a systemic coach. Parallel to her many years of teaching and research at the University of Graz, the focus of her work has increasingly shifted to university didactics. In her position at the Graz University of Technology, she has developed and is responsible for a modular didactics training program and works as a trainer and coach herself. She leads the Didactics Steering Group at TU Graz, which is involved in various initiatives to support and develop teaching. In addition, she was or is a lecturer in higher education didactics at various Austrian HEIs.

Dr. Oliver Vettori is Dean of Accreditation and Quality Management and Director of Programmes & Teaching  Learning at WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business) as well as the alliance-wide Director of Academic Affairs for the ENGAGE.EU University Initiative. In these functions he is responsible, among others, for WU’s/ENGAGE.EUs educational offers,  teaching and learning infrastructure, learning technologies, pedagogical support and quality assurance as well as for coordinating WU’s program portfolio.

Dr. Vettori has been working in higher education management and research for more than two decades, as a reviewer, trainer, researcher and consultant in more than 50 different countries on four different continents including work for EUA, ENQA, UNESCO, ASEAN-QA, EU-SHARE and various ministries, supranational organisations and higher education institutions.

He holds a doctoral degree in Sociology/Organisation Theory from the University of Vienna and is a Research Associate at the Institute for Organization Studies at WU. He is the author of dozens of research publications in the area of higher education and organisation studies. He serves on the international Editorial Board of Quality in Higher Education and is a member of various academic associations (e.g EAIR, CHER).

Johanna Warm is Head of Teaching & Learning Development at WU Vienna. She holds a teaching qualification and a PhD in Romance Linguistics and has been working as a lecturer at the University of Salzburg and at WU.

Her current research and professional interests lie in T&L policies, students’ conceptions of teaching excellence, and the role of contexts in promoting students’ learning effectiveness. She develops and delivers workshops for faculty, including short formats on course design and constructive alignment and on the use of generative AI for course design. She is a regular speaker/trainer on educational development at WU and abroad.

Thérèse Zhang is the Deputy Director for Higher Education Policy at the European University Association (EUA). In this capacity, she contributes to develop the Association’s work in areas such as learning and teaching in higher education, lifelong learning, global relations with other regions of the world, and European policy making in higher education at large.

Thérèse has been active in higher education policy/management and, more generally, project management in education and culture, for over fifteen years. Her experience covers activities in the field of quality management, institutional development, evaluation methodologies, and pedagogy.

Thérèse holds a PhD in Romance Philology and a Master in European Studies from the Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. She completed part of her education at the University of Bologna, Italy, and at Brown University, United States.