Prof Scott's career reflects a deep commitment to open and distance learning, characterised by innovative leadership in various academic and administrative roles. He commenced his career in academia as a researcher and lecturer at the University of Sheffield, UK. His expertise in open learning innovation was further honed during a 20-year tenure at The Open University, UK, where he directed The Knowledge Media Institute, specialising in Artificial Intelligence and Education. In 2015, Prof Scott joined the University of Technology Sydney in Australia as Pro Vice-Chancellor, after which he became the President of Athabasca University, Canada, in 2022.
Across all his roles, he has been a pioneering force in educational change, focusing on new modes of learning and teaching, particularly in the digital realm. His work has significantly contributed to the global transformation of education through technology.
Prof Hyleen Mariaye is the Acting Head of Higher Education Studies at the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE). She has led the MIE’s postgraduate programmes in collaboration with international universities since 2014. In her long career in teacher and higher education, she has held a range of academic roles, but has focused lately on academic development, learning and leadership in higher education contexts. Prof Mariaye is currently the UNESCO Chair in Higher Education in Mauritius and a World Bank expert for the Africa Centres of Excellence project of the Association of African Universities (AAU). Recent publications include the co-edited book Transforming postgraduate education in Africa.
Dr Martin Njeru holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Learning Design and Technology and has over 13 years of experience in disruptive technologies, including innovative EdTech initiatives. He works as a Strategic Education Advisor for Blended Learning at VVOB's African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL) in Rwanda, where he guides the designing of sustainable, scalable blended professional development programmes for school leaders in Africa. In 2023, he led the development of the KEMI eLearning App https://elearning.kemi.ac.ke/, which, along with a blended learning modality, is revolutionising the approach to school leaders’ professional development in Kenya. Dr Njeru has previously coordinated the design and development of award-winning innovative platforms such as ‘ShulePepe’.
Prof Cedric Bheki Mpungose is a full professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies (CIS) at the University of South Africa (Unisa) in Pretoria. His extensive research focuses on the integration of educational technology and curriculum in higher education. Prof Mpungose has delivered presentations at numerous conferences, and his work has been published in various accredited journals. He has also mentored and graduated numerous MEd and PhD students, and has been the recipient of the Fulbright Research Scholar Award (2019–2020) and Mellon Fellowship Award (2021–2023). He currently holds the prestigious NRF Thuthuka Research Fund Award (2023–2025).
