SPEAKERS

Keynote Speakers

Professor Philipp Gonon

University of Zurich, Switzerland

Philipp Gonon studied Law and Journalism from 1974 until 1976 at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Afterwards he continued studying Pedagogy at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. From 1986 until 1992 he became research assistant and lecturer at the Institute of Pedagogy of the University of Bern, Switzerland where he finished his postdoctoral lecture qualification in 1997. From 1999 until 2004, Gonon was appointed to Full University Professor at the Chair of Vocational and Operational Further Education at the University of Trier in Germany. Since 2004, Gonon has held the Chair of Vocational Education and Training and Vocational Teacher Training at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Gonon has done research about Georg Kerschensteiner, the relation of schooling and vocation and about the European educational reforms. He specialised in the areas of historical and international comparative educational research. In addition, Gonon does research in quality assurance and evaluation, modularization in Vocational Education and he publishes about Philosophy and Theory of Vocational Education.

How School Principals Justify Digital Transformation in their Schools

Abstract: School principals in Switzerland described the COVID-19 pandemic as a strong driver for digitalization efforts at their schools. This external shock reinforced the ongoing public debates to promote educational platforms such as moodle and teams in order to deepen the digital integration. In addition, international policy papers, as well as national education policies urged the education world to enforce the digital infrastructure. The result was a massive investment in digital infrastructure and research for digital education. A bring-your-own-device (BYOD)-friendly approach for schools was also welcomed by the public, but also in schools. This presentation is based on research from a Secondary-2-level survey and qualitative data, exploring how school leaders have implemented this new digital strategy in their own schools.
Digital integration often requires new teaching–learning arrangements, involving collaboration between teachers, a change in communication with learners, and different access to learning materials, including new performance assessments. These changes have also created conflicts, asnot all teachers have been willing to adapt. Meanwhile a move toward a new school culture that integrates digital tools has become the new standard, at least in innovative schools.
Schools with bolder digital integration policies tend to adhere to an exploratory regime, drawing on a wide range of legitimations.
 

Professor Jon-Chao Hong

National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan

Jon-Chao Hong has received his doctoral degree in Education from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and is currently working as a Chair professor in the department of industrial education at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU). As the director of Digital Game-based Learning Laboratory (GBL), he has developed 9 web games, 24 educational Apps and VR for skill training and language learning.
As the secretary general of Taiwan Creativity Development Association, he also organizes several creative contests relevant to STEAM, such as PowerTech Contest to invite elementary, junior and senior high school students to produce robots or miniatures in the morning and using these to compete in the afternoon to ensure students’ hands-on creation without parents or teachers’ assistance. As the executive secretary of International Exhibition for Young Inventors (IEYI), he also promotes the innovative contest to give students an opportunity to stimulate their science inquiry abilities, and also cultivated students’ creativity and thinking attitude of STEAM. In addition, he has published a number of academic articles in international journals related to digital game-based learning and thinking skills and creativity about 45 articles on Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) journals and received the Outstanding Research Prize from Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan.
 

Immersive VR Development for University Students to Escape from Dangerous Site

Abstract: Considering the theoretical background for immersive virtual reality (IVR) designing, our lab adapted a “mirror neuron system” (i.e., playing virtually, then to transferring to the real practice that can save practice time) to skill transfer; and provided scaffolding (i.e., providing guidance before actions and feedback after wrong actions), to build correct procedural and safe knowledge in VR skill training. For instance, VR-Fire-Escaping and VR-Earthquake-Escaping, which applies embodied cognition theory to design fire or earthquake scenarios for users to practice, and those presence of VR fire or earthquake hardly being generalized in real training. then anchoring their conditional response to transfer learning effect on fire and earthquake escape. VR-Sense of Danger, which designs how to avoid accident happen in relation to wellhouse to experience the consequence of inappropriate behavior. Additionally, VR-Jazz-Drum which applies mastery learning theory to play the Jazz drum, players can use it to practice rhythm or create their own melody, moreover, it can be applied to reduce mental stress. Those VR programs has been implemented in a university dormitory for students to practice at their own time and to enhance students’ escaping skills from disaster and control their emotional stress too.

Associate Professor Keiichi Takahashi

Kindai University, Japan

Keiichi Takahashi received his master's degree and worked for 10 years in the computer department of a steel company, where he was responsible for the development of various automatic control systems, including an optimal scheduling system based on genetic algorithms. He studied in a doctoral program while working as a project leader and received his PhD from the Muroran Institute of Technology. He has been at Kindai University (Fukuoka Campus) since 2004, where he has been in charge of software engineering training courses such as project management and web application development. He is currently an associate professor in the Department of Information and Computer Science. He is interested in engineering education and learning support systems. His recent research theme is the construction of a support system for programming learners based on log analysis, which aims to obtain students' stumbling blocks from log information during programming using Ruby on Rails, one of the frameworks for web application development, and to solve the students’ stumbling blocks themselves. He is also interested in IT-based manufacturing and is developing an entertainment system using microcomputers and sensors, and a training support system using XR, together with the members of his laboratory.
 

Personal Attempts to Teach as a Former Software Engineer

Abstract: After working as a software engineer for 10 years, I taught software development at a university for 20 years. In my classes and exercises, I have been continuously trying to find ways to help students feel the excitement and fulfillment of software development through trial and error. This talk focuses on my personal class improvement activities rather than cutting-edge academic research. I will discuss the development of industrial software by students, tools to encourage students to write programs with readability in mind, tools to examine how students work on program assignments outside of class time, and, finally, a recent project that I particularly enjoy: a class on developing entertainment systems.

Associate Professor Mitsunori Hirogaki

Kyushu University, Japan

Mitsunori Hirogaki graduated with a Bachelor of Science: Commerce from Doshisha University and pursued his Master's Degree in Commerce and Ph.D.: Commerce from Kobe University. Dr. Hirogaki is currently an Associate Professor of Marketing Strategy at Kyushu University, Graduate School of Economics, Department of Business and Technology Management (QBS Business School), where he teaches Marketing Strategy and International Marketing. He also teaches marketing research and consumer behavior at Ehime University.
He has served as an administrator in various capacities at Kyushu University and as one of the professors in various training programs dealing with Marketing in short-term executive programs, an Introductory Education Program for Freshman MBA students, and a regular feature on QTnet "Morning Business School" radio educational program aired by FM Fukuoka, and at Nikkei Business School. As a member of a research group at the Center for the Study of the Creative Economy (Doshisha University), he works with big data analysis to construct systems that identify seeds of innovation. Dr. Hirogaki’s current research focuses on Cross-Cultural Consumer Behavior in international marketing and marketing strategies in mature, developed societies.
He has published numerous papers in international journals such as Journal of Marketing Management; International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management; International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research; International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business; Micro and Macro Marketing; International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation; and International Journal of Business and Globalisation. He is a member of the Japanese Economic Association, Japan Society of Marketing and Distribution, Kyushu Association of Economic Science, and Japan Association for Consumer Studies.  

Driving the Future: Exploring Consumer Behavior and Societal Impact of Electric Vehicles in Japan’s Green Mobility Transition

Abstract: As the global shift towards sustainable transportation accelerates, understanding consumer behavior is essential for shaping the future of mobility. This keynote explores Japan's unique journey toward achieving a low-carbon society through electric vehicle adoption based on recent empirical research. By examining the challenges and opportunities in Japan’s green growth strategy, this speech aims to provide actionable insights for academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to promote sustainable mobility solutions that align with societal values and behaviors.

Invited Speakers

Dr. Shahid Anjum

Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), Brunei Darussalam

Dr Anjum is currently serving as a Deputy Director of Brunei’s Crown Prince Creative, Innovative Products and Technological Advancement (CIPTA) Award’s Seminar Committee, a Deputy Director of ‘Digital and Creativity Research Thrust’ at School of Computing and Informatics, a Senior A. Professor at School of Business and a member and coordinator at ‘Center for Innovative Engineering’ of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB). Dr. Anjum has appeared on National or local TVs in different countries. Dr. Anjum is a Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer from Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), a Certified Investment Manager from Moody’s Canadian Securities Institute and Certified in Banking Financial Risks and Regulations from Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). Dr. Anjum has earned his Ph. D. from Nagoya University, Japan for research topic of Early Warning System for Financial Risk using Data Mining Approach. He has studied in the “Master of Computer Science program” at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, School of Engineering, University of Detroit in Michigan, USA. He also holds M. Phil. Economics degree.

Dr. Anjum has accumulated experience at various educational and financial institutions in Canada, Japan, USA, Pakistan and Philippines. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at College of Business & Information Technology, Lawrence Tech., Michigan for over 6 years, worked at Royal Bank of Canada and at Asian Development Bank Manila, besides, serving as member of various Board of Directors of Innovative Corporations.

Dr. Anjum has served as a Program Chair for the International Conference on Database and Data Mining) held in Chicago, USA in 2015, a moderator to keynote speeches and expert forums, has served as Session Chairs to over ten conferences and as a technical committee member to over 20 conferences. Dr Anjum’s research has received various Best Paper Awards in Tokyo and ASEAN countries. Dr. Anjum is a senior member of various Computer and Information Technology, Finance, Management and Development Economics related associations and societies. Dr. Anjum is a widely published author and his publications have appeared in reputable journals including in IEEE. Series and Springer as well as chapters in book series. Dr. Anjum is currently editing three books for Taylor and Francis Group and IGI Global on fintech & digital start-ups, Digital Banking & Digital Finance as well “Cracking the Code: Cyber Security Technology Enhancement of Digital Ecosystem”.

Dr. Anjum has conducted and has led various consultancy projects as well as training workshops and mentorship for Entrepreneurs’ bootcamp. for at Darussalam Enterprise (DARe). As Principal Researcher, Dr. Anjum has been a part of team for a project submitted to Brunei Research Council to implement technology transfer from Malaysia and Switzerland to Brunei regarding setting up of Islamic Fintech Lab, gold and silver-based mobile wallet applications, embedded with secured blockchain and Ethereum technology.