Bheki Mthembu | Humanities | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Bheki Mthembu | Humanities | Best Researcher Award

Senior lecturer at Durban University of Technology | South Africa

Dr. Bheki Mthembu is a South African academic and researcher specializing in English Language Education, communication, and the teaching of English as a Second Language. His career spans school teaching, teacher training, and higher education, where he has contributed as lecturer, senior lecturer, programme coordinator, and project leader. He has developed and facilitated multiple national and international projects aimed at enhancing literacy, bilingual education, and academic development. His PhD research focused on English as a First Additional Language and learners’ acquisition of speaking skills in township schools, a theme that continues to inform his teaching and publications. He has supervised and examined master’s and doctoral theses, engaged in collaborative doctoral initiatives across Southern Africa, and served as a peer reviewer for journals and book publishers. Dr. Mthembu’s contributions extend to professional bodies, academic committees, and cultural recognition initiatives, making him a respected scholar and mentor in education.

Professional Profile

Orcid

Educational Background 

Dr. Bheki Mthembu academic foundation began with a Senior Primary Teachers Diploma, equipping him with skills in classroom practice and pedagogy. He pursued advanced teacher training qualifications, including specialized certificates in teaching English at secondary level and for overseas contexts, which enhanced his expertise in language education. His studies abroad strengthened his pedagogical approach and expanded his international perspective on English Language Education. He further advanced academically with a master’s degree in English Language Education, which deepened his research focus on language pedagogy. He complemented this with a Master of Commerce in Organisational and Management Systems, expanding his understanding of leadership, organisational practices, and systems thinking. To strengthen his applied skills, he also acquired a diploma in project management, preparing him to lead educational initiatives and collaborative projects effectively. His academic journey culminated with a doctoral degree in Education, where he investigated the acquisition of English language skills among township learners.

Professional Experience 

Dr. Bheki Mthembu has over three decades of professional experience across teaching, research, and higher education leadership. He began his career as a high school educator before transitioning into teacher training, subject advising, and programme coordination, where he supported educators in English language pedagogy. His experience as a senior lecturer in language and communication expanded his scope into higher education, where he has lectured, supervised, and mentored students at undergraduate, honours, master’s, and doctoral levels. At the University of KwaZulu-Natal, he taught a wide range of English education and methodology modules and contributed actively to postgraduate teaching and supervision. He has also been involved in numerous collaborative projects that address literacy, multilingual education, pedagogy, and student success. Currently serving as a senior lecturer at Durban University of Technology, he continues to combine teaching, research, curriculum development, and academic leadership while contributing to community-based educational initiatives.

Research Interests 

Dr. Bheki Mthembu research interests lie primarily in English Language Education, focusing on teaching English as a Second Language, particularly in township and rural school contexts. He investigates how learners acquire speaking and listening skills and the pedagogical strategies that teachers use to support this process. He is also interested in exploring discrepancies between teacher beliefs and practices in English education, as well as the role of literature and multimodal resources in the classroom. His work extends to bilingual and multilingual education, academic literacy, and language across the curriculum, with emphasis on supporting learners from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Additionally, he is engaged in scholarship of teaching and learning, with a focus on improving student success in higher education through innovative approaches, such as digital platforms and bilingual tutoring. His collaborative research spans educational equity, teacher development, and the sociocultural dimensions of language learning within African and global contexts.

Awards and Honors 

Dr. Bheki Mthembu has been recognized for his academic and professional contributions through scholarships, grants, and institutional honors. He received funding support for doctoral research, highlighting the significance of his work in advancing the teaching of English as a Second Language. His earlier international scholarships allowed him to pursue advanced studies in English language education and pedagogy in the United Kingdom, reflecting his academic promise and dedication to improving teaching methodologies. Within academic circles, he has been acknowledged for his contributions to peer review, scholarly evaluation, and programme development. His role in initiating and co-authoring the recommendation for the awarding of an honorary doctorate to Madala Kunene at the University of KwaZulu-Natal underscored his cultural engagement and recognition of South Africa’s artistic and educational heritage. These honors, coupled with his leadership roles and service to academic organisations, illustrate a career committed to both educational excellence and broader societal impact.

Research Skills 

Designing and teaching English education modules at undergraduate and postgraduate levels; supervising and examining master’s and doctoral research in language education; developing literacy, bilingual, and multilingual teaching strategies; conducting qualitative and case study research in classroom contexts; facilitating workshops and training for teachers in English as a Second Language; applying project management in educational and community-based initiatives; leading and contributing to collaborative international research projects; publishing in peer-reviewed journals and contributing to edited volumes; reviewing manuscripts, journal articles, and research portfolios for academic institutions and publishers; mentoring postgraduate students across African universities through regional doctoral initiatives; analysing pedagogical practices, teacher development, and learner outcomes; integrating technology and multimodal resources in language teaching; coordinating academic programmes and quality assurance processes; contributing to curriculum innovation and policy discussions in higher education; engaging in interdisciplinary projects linking language education with communication, disaster management, and community development.

Publication Top Notes

Tutors’ experiences of implementing a bilingual language policy at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
Year: 2024

YouTube video approaches to the rescue of learning English language in higher education in selected African countries
Year: 2024

The Value of the African Dilemma Tales as a Pedagogical Resource
Year: 2024

Reflections on Our Journeys to Foregrounding Students’ Experiences Through Literature in a Pre-Service Teacher Education Programme
Year: 2023

Conclusion 

Dr. Bheki Mthembu career reflects dedication, scholarly excellence, and significant contributions to English Language Education and teacher development. His academic achievements, project leadership, and mentorship of postgraduate students demonstrate both depth and breadth of expertise. With continued emphasis on international collaboration and policy impact, he is well-positioned as a strong candidate for recognition through a research award.

Gustavo Hernandez | Humanities | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gustavo Hernandez | Humanities | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor at universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain

Gustavo Hernandez is an enthusiastic and multidisciplinary professional with a passion for tackling high-level challenges in research, innovation, development, and entrepreneurship. His diverse educational background and technical expertise enable him to excel in coordination, management, and problem-solving roles. 🌟🔬🤖

Publication Profile 

Scopus

Educational Background 🎓

  • Ph.D. in Deep Learning applied to Human Behavior Analysis
    Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) (2015–2019)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
    Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) (2018–2019)
  • M.Sc. in Telecommunication Technologies, Systems, and Networks
    Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) (2007–2009)
  • Especialista Universitario en Redes Corporativas e Integración de Sistemas
    Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) (2006–2007)
  • B.Sc. in Telecommunication Engineering, Computer Science
    Universidad Santo Tomas (2000–2005)

Professional Experience 💼

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

Assistant Professor (Jan 2023–Present)

  • Teaching and research responsibilities in advanced topics within telecommunications and machine learning.

Telecommunication Engineer (Apr 2013–Oct 2021)

  • Developed deep learning algorithms for human behavior analysis.
  • Coordinated and managed multidisciplinary European-funded projects under H2020.
  • Created wireless sensor networks and related software systems.

Medidee

Project Associate (Oct 2021–Oct 2022)

  • Supported medical technology projects in Munich, Germany.

Visiona Ingeniería de Proyectos

Software Developer (Sep 2015–May 2016)

  • Developed APIs for smart applications and worked on embedded systems.

University of Valencia

Research Associate (Jun 2009–Jun 2012)

  • Conducted research on distributed algorithms for wireless sensor networks.
  • Published papers in top signal processing conferences.

SERMICRO

Computer Technician (Nov 2012–Apr 2013)

  • Hardware/software maintenance and troubleshooting using bug-tracking systems.

Research Interests 🔬

  • Deep learning and machine learning for human behavior analysis.
  • Wireless sensor networks and distributed algorithms.
  • Smart applications and environmental monitoring.
  • Coordination of multidisciplinary research projects.

Awards and Honors🏆✨

  • Selected for the FRACTALS Accelerator program for his initiative GROW-&-LINK, a crowd-commerce platform.
  • Published over 20 research works, including 10+ journal articles and 10+ conference papers.

Conclusion🌟

Gustavo Hernandez combines technical expertise in machine learning, telecommunications, and software development with strong project management and coordination skills. His research and practical experience make him a valuable contributor to multidisciplinary innovation and technology. 🚀🌐

Publications 📚

  • 🧠 Paediatric Cancer Pathways with AI
    Title: General Context and Relevant Public Datasets Available for Improving Pathways in Paediatric Cancer Applying Artificial Intelligence. A Review
    Authors: Hernández-Peñaloza, G., Uribe, S., García, F.M., Graf, N., Álvarez, F.
    Journal: EJC Paediatric Oncology, 2024, 4, 100196
    Citations: 🌟 0

  • 🌟 Childhood Cancer Data Integration
    Title: Common Core Variables for Childhood Cancer Data Integration
    Authors: Di Carlo, D., Ladenstein, R., Graf, N., Kearns, P., Bisogno, G.
    Journal: EJC Paediatric Oncology, 2024, 4, 100186
    Citations: 🌟 0

  • 🤖 Twitter Conspiracies
    Title: Conspiracy or Not? A Deep Learning Approach to Spot It on Twitter
    Authors: Galende, B.A., Hernandez-Penaloza, G., Uribe, S., Garcia, F.A.
    Journal: IEEE Access, 2022, 10, pp. 38370–38378
    Citations: 🌟 10

  • 🚀 Bot Detection Using Transformers
    Title: A Deep Learning Approach for Robust Detection of Bots in Twitter Using Transformers
    Authors: Martin-Gutierrez, D., Hernandez-Penaloza, G., Hernandez, A.B., Lozano-Diez, A., Alvarez, F.
    Journal: IEEE Access, 2021, 9, pp. 54591–54601
    Citations: 🌟 42

  • 💻 FPGA Test-Bench Framework
    Title: A Novel FPGA-Based Test-Bench Framework for SDI Stream Verification
    Authors: Conti, G., Kyrkou, C., Theocharides, T., Hernández-Peñaloza, G., Jiménez, D.
    Journal: Eurasip Journal on Image and Video Processing, 2020, 2020(1), 31
    Citations: 🌟 1

  • 📡 Indoor Tracking with Generative Networks
    Title: Recurrent Model for Wireless Indoor Tracking and Positioning Recovering Using Generative Networks
    Authors: Belmonte-Hernandez, A., Hernandez-Penaloza, G., Martin Gutierrez, D., Alvarez, F.
    Journal: IEEE Sensors Journal, 2020, 20(6), pp. 3356–3365
    Citations: 🌟 28

  • 🎵 Predicting Music Popularity
    Title: A Multimodal End-to-End Deep Learning Architecture for Music Popularity Prediction
    Authors: Martin-Gutierrez, D., Hernandez Penaloza, G., Belmonte-Hernandez, A., Alvarez Garcia, F.
    Journal: IEEE Access, 2020, 8, pp. 39361–39374
    Citations: 🌟 30

  • 🏥 E-Health Platforms
    Title: TeNDER: Towards Efficient Health Systems Through E-Health Platforms Employing Multimodal Monitoring
    Authors: Solachidis, V., Moreno, J.R., Hernandez-Penaloza, G., Alvarez, F., Daras, P.
    Conference: 2021 IEEE/ACM Conference on Connected Health, 2021, pp. 185–192
    Citations: 🌟 3

  • 🌍 AI for Migrant Integration
    Title: A Novel Multi-Modal Framework for Migrants Integration Based on AI Tools and Digital Companion
    Authors: Martin-Gutierrez, D., Hernandez-Penaloza, G., Semertzidis, T., Alvarez, F., Daras, P.
    Conference: 2020 IEEE International Conference on Multimedia and Expo Workshops, 2020
    Citations: 🌟 0

  • 🛠️ Correction: FPGA Test-Bench Framework
    Title: Correction to: A Novel FPGA-Based Test-Bench Framework for SDI Stream Verification
    Authors: Conti, G., Kyrkou, C., Theocharides, T., Hernández-Peñaloza, G., Jiménez, D.
    Journal: Eurasip Journal on Image and Video Processing, 2020, 2020(1), 45
    Citations: 🌟 0

 

 

Mohammed Alkamel | Humanities | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Innovation Technologist

Assist. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Alkamel | Humanities | Best Researcher Award

Faculty Member of AL-QALAM UNIVERSITY FOR HUMANITIES AND APPLIED SCIENCES, Yemen

Dr. Mohammed Abdulkareem Abdullah Alkamel is an Assistant Professor at Ibb University in Yemen with a specialization in English Language Studies and TESOL. He completed his Ph.D. at Dr. BAM University, Aurangabad, India, and holds a Master’s degree from Fergusson College, Pune University. With extensive experience in both academia and translation, Dr. Alkamel has made significant contributions to the field through his research on ICT in education and online testing. He has actively participated in numerous conferences and workshops, served as a peer reviewer for various journals, and has been involved in curriculum development and teaching. His recent research includes the application of AI and MOOCs in enhancing.

Publication Profile : 

Scopus

Educational Background :

Dr. Mohammed Abdulkareem Abdullah Alkamel completed his Ph.D. in English Language Studies (TESOL) from Dr. BAM University, Aurangabad, India, in 2021. He earned his Master of Arts in English from Fergusson College, Pune University, India, in 2016, and his Bachelor of Arts from the Faculty of Arts, Ibb University, Yemen. His doctoral thesis focused on the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning English in public and private universities in Yemen.

Professional Experience :

Dr. Alkamel is an Assistant Professor at Ibb University, Yemen, where he teaches various courses in the Department of English Language. He has also served as an Assistant Professor at Al-Qalam University for Humanities and Applied Sciences, where he was involved in teaching courses related to English Language and Translation Studies, including Teaching Methods, Legal Translation, and Technical Translation. His professional experience extends to translation, having worked as an interpreter for Language Service Bureau, Bajaj Company, in Pune, India. Additionally, Dr. Alkamel has significant experience in curriculum development, course specification, and supervising graduation research projects.

Research Interests : 

Dr. Alkamel’s research interests encompass online testing in higher education, the use of ICT tools in English language teaching and learning, and the integration of social media in education. He has published several research papers in international journals and conferences on these topics. His recent work includes exploring the use of AI tools to enhance academic writing skills, the application of MOOCs for language proficiency, and the challenges of using social media for EFL students.

Publication Top Notes :

  • Alkamel, M. A. A., & Alwagieh, N. A. S. (2024). Utilizing an adaptable artificial intelligence writing tool (ChatGPT) to enhance academic writing skills among Yemeni university EFL students. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 10, 101095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101095
  • Alkamel, M. A. A., & Al-Badani, R. K. H. (2024). Utilizing massive open online courses (MOOCs) to enhance English language proficiency among Yemeni EFL learners. Journal of ELT Studies (JES), 1(1), 1-15.
  • Alkamel, M. A. A. (2024). Social media in teaching English for EFL students: A review of challenges and suggestions. International Journal, 2(1), 8-17. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijetl.20240201.12
  • Al-Shehari, F. M. A., Ashtaputre, A. A., Hossain, M. I., Alkamel, M. A. A., & Bristy, S. A. (2023). Psychological resilience and emotional stability of nurses in COVID-19 quarantine centers: A brief study. American Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 5(4), 82-94. https://doi.org/10.34104/ajpab.023.082094
  • Alkamel, M. A. A., Chouthaiwale, S. S., Yassin, A. A., AlAjmi, Q., & Albaadany, H. Y. (2021). Online testing in higher education institutions during the outbreak of COVID-19: Challenges and opportunities. In Emerging Technologies During the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic (pp. 348-349). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67716-9_22
  • Alkamel, M. A. A., & Chouthaiwale, S. S. (2020). ICT availability and uses among Yemeni university EFL students. TESOL and Technology Studies, 1(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.48185/tts.v1i1.63
  • Alkamel, M. A. A. (2020). Use of information and communication technology (ICT) in a literature classroom. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Innovative Research (JETIR), 7(6). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3634906
  • Alkamel, M. A. A., & Chouthaiwale, S. S. (2018). The use of ICT tools in English language teaching and learning: A literature review. Veda’s Journal of English Language and Literature, 5(2), 29-33.
  • Alkamel, M. A. A., & Chouthaiwale, S. S. (2019). Performative and constatives in Abdulwali’s short story: “Abu Rupee”: A discourse analysis. Recent Trends in English, Marathi and Hindi, 108.
  • Chouthaiwale, S., & Alkamel, M. A. A. (2018). The positive effect of ICT on English language learning and teaching. Dialoguing Borders: Vital Issues in Humanities, Commerce, IT and Management, Special Issue, October 2018, ISSSN: 23199318, Aurangabad, India.