Bakhtiar Ostadi | Competitive Advantage | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Bakhtiar Ostadi | Competitive Advantage | Best Researcher Award 

Associate Professor at Tarbiat Modares University | Iran

Dr. Bakhtiar Ostadi is an Iranian scholar and Associate Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran. With over two decades of academic and industrial contributions, he has advanced research in risk assessment, quality management, reliability engineering, and process improvement. He has authored numerous journal articles, conference papers, and books, and has supervised key projects in industries ranging from automotive and gas refineries to telecommunications and insurance. Fluent in English and Farsi, Dr. Ostadi integrates theoretical expertise with practical applications, making significant impacts in both academia and industry.

Profiles 

Scopus 

ORCID

Google Scholar

Educational Background

Dr. Bakhtiar Ostadi has a strong interdisciplinary academic foundation in mathematics and industrial engineering. He earned his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran with a dissertation titled “An Examination of the Role of the Quality Management Systems in the Preparation and Implementation Stages of BPR Projects Using Concept of Dynamic Capabilities and RBVF Model.” Prior to that, he received his M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tehran, where his thesis focused on cost management in a flexible manufacturing system with an activity-based costing approach in the forging industry. His academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Applied Mathematics from K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran.

Professional Experience

Dr. Bakhtiar Ostadi is currently an Associate Professor at the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. He has led and participated in numerous research and industrial projects in areas such as process management, business process reengineering, reliability and risk engineering, and quality systems. His applied projects include activity-based costing in manufacturing industries, cargo train scheduling, risk management in civil and energy projects, evaluation of dependability in gas refineries, and developing excellence roadmaps for large-scale organizations such as Iran Insurance Company, IRIB, and MCI (Hamrah-e-Avval).

Dr. Bakhtiar Ostadi is an active educator and has taught a wide range of graduate and doctoral-level courses, including Reliability Engineering, Risk Reengineering, Quality and Process Improvement in Healthcare, Corporate Finance, Quality Engineering, Marketing Management, and Computer Simulation & Optimization. He also contributes to the scholarly community as a review board member of the International Journal of Production Research.

Research Interests

Dr. Bakhtiar Ostadi’s research interests cover a wide range of topics in industrial and systems engineering, reflecting both theoretical depth and practical application. He is particularly focused on data-driven risk assessment and pricing strategies for bidding, with an emphasis on improving decision-making under uncertainty. His work also extends to resilience engineering and quality engineering and management, aiming to enhance the robustness and efficiency of complex systems. In addition, he has a strong interest in process management, modeling, and simulation as tools for analyzing and optimizing organizational performance. Reliability engineering forms another key area of his expertise, where he explores methods to improve system dependability and maintenance practices. Complementing these technical domains, he also investigates customer value, customer experience, and marketing, integrating human and organizational dimensions into engineering solutions.

Publications

Using extended Monte Carlo simulation method for the improvement of risk management: Consideration of relationships between uncertainties

Year: 2007 | Citation: 159

Grouping evolution strategies: An effective approach for grouping problems

Year: 2015 | Citation: 66

Activity-based costing in flexible manufacturing systems with a case study in a forging industry

Year: 2008 | Citation: 64

A combined modelling of fuzzy logic and Time-Driven Activity-based Costing (TDABC) for hospital services costing under uncertainty

Year: 2019 | Citation: 60

An assessment model for hospital resilience according to the simultaneous consideration of key performance indicators: A system dynamics approach

Year: 2020 | Citation: 44

Conclusion

Dr. Bakhtiar Ostadi stands out as a highly accomplished researcher whose work embodies both innovation and practical impact. His career reflects a dedication to advancing industrial and systems engineering through risk management, resilience, and quality improvement. With his strong academic record, successful industrial projects, and commitment to education, he has established himself as a competitive candidate for the Best Researcher Award. By continuing to broaden his international collaborations and embracing emerging research trends, Dr. Ostadi is well positioned to achieve even greater global recognition. His contributions already make a lasting difference, and his future endeavors promise to further enhance the field.

Nazir Jogezai | Leadership in Business | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nazir Jogezai | Leadership in Business | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nazir Jogezai, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Russia

Dr. Nazir Ahmed Jogezai is a distinguished scholar in educational leadership, technology, and innovation, holding a PhD and serving as Research Fellow at the Higher School of Economics, Moscow. With cross‑cultural collaborations across Russia, Malaysia, China, and Pakistan, he has significantly contributed to global research on AI in education, culture, and leadership. Known for publishing eight peer‑reviewed papers in Web of Science and Scopus indexed journals during his postdoctoral tenure, he also presents internationally as keynote and conference speaker. His strengths include development of theoretical frameworks, international academic writing facilitation, and supervision of graduate research. Renowned for bridging cultural dimensions and technological innovation in higher education, Dr. Jogezai is forging the future of educational leadership globally through interdisciplinary scholarship and impactful teaching.

Profile 👤

Google Scholar

Education 🎓

Dr. Jogezai earned his doctorate in education (PhD) with a focus on leadership, innovation, and emerging learning technologies. He has completed several prestigious short courses, including “Academic Writing in English as a Foreign Language (Advanced level)” at HSE Moscow (2023); “Critical Thinking in Global Challenges” at University of Edinburgh (2014); “Information & Communication Technologies” at Save the Children‑US (2014); “Creativity, Innovation and Change” at Pennsylvania State University Australia (2013); “Gender Mainstreaming” at Aga Khan University (2012); and “Follow‑Up Course to Histories and Cultures” at AKU‑ISMC London (2006). These formal and supplemental qualifications underscore his expertise in academic writing, innovation, gender issues, global thinking, and ICT, contributing to his holistic and interdisciplinary academic foundation.

Experience 💼

As Research Fellow at the Institute of Education, Higher School of Economics, Moscow (since September 2022), Dr. Jogezai leads projects on AI in Education and Cultural Dimension of Human Enhancement Technologies. He has co‑developed theoretical models, written grant articles, supervised collaborations with international partners (e.g., HSE and XJTLU, China), and designed course materials in change, innovation, digital technologies, and AI pedagogy. He mentors master’s students in educational technology, leadership, assessment, and AI research, evaluates undergraduate and graduate submissions, and facilitates the HSE Academic Writing Center. From 2019 to 2022, he served as Academic Faculty at Balochistan’s Bureau of Curriculum (Pakistan), developing curriculum frameworks and textbooks for K‑12, designing capacity building tools and needs assessments, and teaching leadership, curriculum development, assessment, and research methods. As Visiting Faculty at BUITEMS (2020–2022), he designed postgraduate courses on educational leadership, administration, digital citizenship, and supervised nine postgraduate research projects. At Universiti Sains Malaysia (2017–2019), he taught organizational development, innovation, change, and mentored international students while contributing to CPD programs.

Research Interest 🔬

Dr. Jogezai’s research interests center on AI in education, leadership in higher education, innovative pedagogies, cross‑cultural influences on technology adoption, and educational policy and curriculum transformation. He investigates how Hofstede’s dimensions of national culture influence university teachers’ and students’ adoption of AI tools, comparing data from institutions in Russia and China. He delves into emotional‑cognitive drivers of human enhancement technologies, and the design, implementation, and impact of digital pedagogies in HEIs. His work extends to curriculum policy alignment, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, digital citizenship, and civic education. He is passionate about synthesizing qualitative, quantitative and mixed‑methods research to understand leadership capital, institutional innovation, and learner readiness. His goal is to generate actionable strategies that facilitate transformational change in education systems through AI, leadership development, and culturally informed technology adoption.

Award 🏆

Dr. Jogezai has been nominated for the 2025 Global Educational Leadership Innovation Award, recognizing his groundbreaking contributions to AI-enhanced pedagogy and international leadership development. Drawing on his Cambridge‑style academic writing credentials and extensive short‑course training, he is lauded for advancing digital transformation in HEIs across continents. His nomination emphasizes his successful supervision of master’s research, his leadership in curriculum design, and his role as reviewer for Emerald, Elsevier, and Taylor & Francis journals. His eight publications in WoS and Scopus‑indexed journals within two postdoctoral years underscore the rapid scholarly impact. The nomination acknowledges his service as keynote and presenter at multiple international conferences and his pioneering model of cross‑cultural AI adoption in education. This award nomination reflects his visionary scholarship, educational leadership, and transformative influence in academic innovation and policy.

Publication Top Notes📚

The desire path: unleashing expectations, discussing apprehensions, and proposing a way forward for GAI use in higher education

University teachers at the crossroads: unpacking their intentions toward ChatGPT’s instructional use

Predictability of school principals’ leadership orientation for their intentions of implementing nutrition education

COVID-19 and school leadership: a tale of transition

Steps to Prepare Bilingual Data for Analysis: A Methodological Approach.

From technology to pedagogy: determinants of university faculty’s pedagogically relevant use of generative AI

Hindering and enabling factors towards ICT integration in schools: A developing country perspective

Teachers’ digital competence in the post COVID-19 era: The effects of digital nativeness, and digital leadership capital

Understanding the effects of educational decentralization through the perspectives of education managers and teachers

Head teachers’ change facilitation styles and teachers’ concerns about ICT integration

Conclusion 💡

Dr. Nazir Ahmed Jogezai, PhD, exemplifies the synergy of global scholarship, educational leadership, and technological innovation. With robust teaching and research portfolios, cross‑cultural collaborations, and a clear focus on AI in education and leadership, his academic trajectory is forward‑looking and transformative. His contributions to curriculum design, postgraduate mentorship, and academic writing facilitation have strengthened institutional capabilities across countries. The nomination for the educational leadership award encapsulates his status as an emerging global leader in education technology. Dr. Jogezai’s future endeavors—especially further publications, theoretical model development, and international research collaborations—promise to shape educational leadership discourse and institutional innovation worldwide.

Rohitashw Kumar | Sustainability Strategies | Lifetime achievement Award

Prof Dr. Rohitashw Kumar | Sustainability Strategies | Lifetime achievement Award

Prof Dr. Rohitashw Kumar, SKUAST-Kashmir Srinagar, India

Dr. Rohitashw Kumar (b. 15 August 1973) is a seasoned academic and innovator in agricultural engineering. Currently serving as the Associate Dean of the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology and Head of the Division of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), he is a pioneering figure in the integration of artificial intelligence and smart technologies in agriculture. His career spans over two decades of excellence in research, teaching, and institutional leadership, underscored by numerous national awards and impactful publications. 🌾📡

 📘 Profile

Googlescholar

🎓 Education

Dr. Kumar earned his Ph.D. in Water Resources Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur in 2014, focusing on moisture uptake modelling in multi-layered soils. He previously completed his M.E. in Irrigation Water Management Engineering (1999) and B.E. in Agricultural Engineering (1997) from the College of Technology & Agricultural Engineering, Udaipur. His academic foundation is rooted in strong mathematical and scientific principles developed through his schooling in Rajasthan. 📘🧠

🧪 Experience

With rich experience in academia, Dr. Kumar has led multiple high-impact initiatives at SKUAST-K. He was a Visiting Fellow at Western Sydney University, Australia (April–June 2022), contributing to global agricultural research. As a mentor, he has guided award-winning M.Tech. theses and collaborated on national projects in watershed hydrology, protected cultivation, and automation in agriculture. His leadership extends beyond education into policy and applied research benefiting farming communities. 🌍🔬

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Kumar’s interdisciplinary research blends advanced technology with environmental sustainability. His interests include artificial intelligence in agriculture, IoT-based automation systems, protected cultivation, hydroponics, and water resource modeling. His Ph.D. focused on plant-soil moisture interactions, while his ongoing work explores smart irrigation systems and watershed hydrology. His innovative approach continues to bridge engineering solutions with practical agricultural applications. 💧🤖🌱

🏆 Awards

Dr. Kumar’s illustrious career is decorated with national honors. He was awarded the Professor Water Chair by the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, and the National Geospatial Faculty Fellow Award (2024) by IIT Bombay. Other accolades include the Gold Medal Award (2022), Leadership Award (2020), Distinguished Alumni Award (2019), and Special Research Awards (2017, 2015). His excellence in mentoring, publishing, and environmental protection has earned him over a dozen national recognitions. 🥇📜

📚 Publication Top Notes

A review on emerging water contaminants and the application of sustainable removal technologies

Climate change and its impact on plant diseases

Climate change and its impact on agricultural productivity in India

Impact of COVID-related lockdowns on environmental and climate change scenarios

Methods to estimate irrigated reference crop evapotranspiration–a review

Sustainable nanotechnology based wastewater treatment strategies: achievements, challenges and future perspectives

Methods to estimate evapotranspiration in humid and subtropical climate conditions

Biogas: a boon for sustainable energy development in India׳ s cold climate

Desalination: From ancient to present and future

The evolution of agricultural drainage from the earliest times to the presen

Demissie Hankebo | Strategic Planning | Academic Leadership in Business Strategy Award

Dr. Demissie Hankebo | Strategic Planning | Academic Leadership in Business Strategy Award

Dr. Demissie Hankebo,  Instructor and researcher, Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia

Dr. Demissie Dalelo Hankebo is an accomplished Ethiopian academic and higher education leader with over two decades of experience in teaching, strategic planning, and institutional quality assurance. 🎓 Currently serving as the Director of Institutional Quality Assurance at Woliata Sodo University, he has played a key role in advancing educational leadership in Ethiopia. Known for his visionary thinking, strategic insight, and commitment to faculty development, Dr. Hankebo has significantly contributed to academic planning, research development, and institutional governance. 🇪🇹

🧑‍💼 Profile

Orcid

🎓 Education

Dr. Hankebo holds a PhD in Education Management from the University of South Africa, a Master’s degree in Human Resource and Organizational Development, and a BA in Educational Planning and Management—all from Addis Ababa University. 📘 His academic journey began in Wonji and continued with a strong focus on organizational efficiency and institutional reform. He also earned a Diploma in Educational Planning and has completed numerous training programs in leadership, civic education, and teacher development. 📚

👨‍🏫 Experience

With over 10 years of primary teaching and 4 years as a school principal, Dr. Hankebo transitioned to higher education, where he has taught for more than 20 years at Woliata Sodo University. 🏫 He has been instrumental in delivering undergraduate and postgraduate education, supervising research, and mentoring faculty. As a seasoned academic, he has led university-wide induction training, chaired strategic committees, and co-developed the university’s recent strategic plan. He also serves on national panels for curriculum review and research evaluation. 🔍

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Hankebo’s research interests lie in education management, institutional development, teacher training, and strategic leadership in academia. 🧠 He focuses on improving learning outcomes through quality assurance, civic engagement, and performance-based evaluation systems. His involvement in the Higher Education Strategic Center (HESC) reflects his commitment to national reform and policy innovation in education. 📈

🏅 Awards & Recognitions

Dr. Hankebo has received various certifications and commendations for his service in leadership training, conflict resolution, cooperative learning, and civic education. 🥇 His leadership in preparing the institutional strategic plan and conducting academic staff induction for over a decade has earned him respect across regional academic communities.

📚 Publication Top Notes

Hankebo, D. D. (2022). Strategic Educational Planning in the Context of Developing Nations, Ethiopian Journal of Educational Management. Cited by 9 articles.

Hankebo, D. D. (2021). Institutional Quality Assurance and Faculty Development, African Higher Education Review. Cited by 12 articles.

Hankebo, D. D. (2020). Civic Education and Leadership in Ethiopian Schools, International Journal of Education and Development. Cited by 15 articles.