Sarah Hopkyns is an English language instructor in the Academic Bridge Program at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). She holds a PhD in Educational Research and an MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from the University of Leicester, UK. She is currently the chair of her department’s research committee. Her research interests center around sociolinguistics, especially investigating the effects of global English on Emirati cultural identities, and the sociological implications of English Medium Instruction (EMI).

Timothy Nicoll is an instructor in the Academic Bridge Program at Zayed University. He holds a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from the University of Leicester, as well as a Master of Arts from the Faculty of law, Environment and Social Sciences at the University of NewcastleTimothy is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a Member of the Centre for Higher Education Research and Evaluation at Lancaster University..

Beth Wiens has worked in assessment in the United Arab Emirates for the past 20 years. Currently she is the Assessment Supervisor in Zayed University's Academic Bridge Program in Dubai. She has a MA in Applied Linguistics and has worked on curriculum and assessment throughout her career.

Maher Bahloul holds a PhD in Linguistics from Cornell University, New York, and a MA from the Sorbonne University, Paris. He taught courses in language, linguistics, translation, and TESOL in the United States and the Middle East. He participated in more than 60 international conferences and conducted workshops in various applied linguistics fields. His latest book with Carolyn Graham deals with the growing field of Learning Through The Arts (LTTA), and focuses specifically on the use of film in education. Dr. Bahloul is Associate Professor at the American University of Sharjah.

Damien Carberry is an Assistant Professor with the General Studies division at the Higher Colleges of Technology in Madinat Zayed campus. He has worked with both the History and Adult and Community Education Departments at Maynooth University in Ireland. His research interests include, but are not limited to, Social and Cultural Studies, understanding history as the harbinger of contemporary society, the role of emotion in learning, the psychology of adult learning, the implications of childhood experiences for adult learning and transformative learning. He holds a PhD in Social and Cultural History.

Stephanie Siam is an Instructor with the Department of English and Writing Studies for the University College at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. She has 12 years of teaching experience in ESL and academic writing instruction. In addition to ZU, she has also taught in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United States. Her main research interest is effective utilization and integration of peer review in the undergraduate writing classroom. Her recent publications include co-authoring “A Case for Peer Review Inclusion in Writing Assessment” (Bodola & Siam, 2015).

Shytance Wren is an instructor in the University College with the Advising and Academic Development Department. She received her Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration with a specialization in International Development from Michigan State University. Her professional background is in higher education, student affairs administration and international education development. Shytance’s research interests encompass improving the effectiveness of international higher education through integrated reforms in curriculum, teaching, leadership, research, and assessment.

Wafa Zoghbor is the Assistant Dean for Research, Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. She is an Applied Linguist and an accredited professional international trainer in Strategic Planning and critical thinking skills. She obtained several leadership practitioner certifications; the most recent one is the International Scholarship of Leadership in teaching and learning in Higher Education with the University of British Colombia in Canada. Her expertise in Applied Linguistics covers: Phonology, English as a lingua franca (ELF) and sight words in Arabic.

Kristine N. Stewart is the Information Literacy Coordinator at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. She is an Information Scientist and creates and coordinates Information Literacy trainings for students and faculty to enhance the use of critical thinking skills in academic settings. Her research interests are cross-disciplinary within the fields of library and information science, media and communication sciences, and sociology to explore human information behavior in various contexts to understand its role in our global society. She has presented at several regional and international conferences, and serves as a Director at Large for the Information Literacy Network of the Gulf.

Manisha Kankarej is an Assistant Professor in department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai. She joined Zayed University in August 2010. Prior to that, Manisha has taught in National Defense Academy, India, where her duties included teaching the cadets of Army, Navy and Air force. She has over 18 years of experience in teaching Mathematics to the students of graduate and postgraduate level with experience of teaching students of different cultural backgrounds.

David M. Palfreyman is an Associate Professor in the College of Education at Zayed University, Dubai, and has been Chief Editor of the ZU ]journal Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives (LTHE) since founding the journal in 2004. He holds a PhD in Language Studies and is an active researcher in language, learning and teaching. As well as publishing work in international journals and books, he is the editor of three books: Learner Autonomy Across Cultures (with Richard C. Smith), Learning and Teaching Across Cultures in Higher Education (with Dawn L. McBride) and Academic Biliteracies (with Christa van der Walt).

Vindhya Sathya Singh teaches at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Centre for Preparatory Studies, Sultan Qaboos University. Her areas of interests are employability skills, problem-based learning, vocational English, ESP, and curriculum renewal. Dr. Singh is currently involved in developing ways to enhance teaching skills and critical thinking in learners in consultation with the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, at SQU.

Edith Flahive, PhD is a faculty member at Abu Dhabi Men’s College. Her research interests include learner autonomy, classroom methodologies, teacher development, and leadership. She has presented both nationally and internationally on a variety of topics from school leadership, to learner differences, mixed methods research, locus of control, and technology in the classroom. She has published in the field of research methods, teacher development, learner differences, vocabulary acquisition, and alternative teaching methods.

Judith Mavodza is Associate Professor, Instruction Reference Librarian at Zayed University, UAE. Areas of research interest include reference and instruction, marketing and assessment of library services, PD of librarians, and knowledge management. Dr Mavodza serves as an editorial advisor to the Evidence Based Library and Information Practice Journal and is a published author of several scholarly journal articles, a reviewer for several journals, a book author, as well as a presenter at a many professional/ academic conferences.

Hussam Alzieni (PhD), is an English Instructor at the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai Men’s College. He holds a PhD in Education, Curriculum and English Language Instruction. He has been working as an EFL teacher, trainer, and a researcher for about 25 years. His main research interests include the use of technology in the classroom, mobile learning, learner autonomy, assessment, and classroom management.

Zoe Hurley is interested in working with students on change-based design to create digital artefacts, websites and social media campaigns. She has written and presented papers on social media, social learning, augmented reality, digital spaces and communication. As a PhD candidate in e-Research and Technology-Enhanced Learning with Lancaster University, UK, her studies explore social semiotics, multimodal critical discourse analysis and intersectional feminism.

Michael Bowles has been a teacher, teacher trainer, examiner, examiner trainer and project manager. He is currently teaching in the Academic Bridge Program at Zayed University and has been in this position for over 9 years. His research interests include using Critical Theory and Activity Theory to explore issues related to materials design, learning management systems and project-based learning.

Kirk Dowsell is an Instructor at the College of Technological Innovation at Zayed University. His current area of research is subject specific vocabulary acquisition and mobile language learning. He is also interested in other aspects of Information Communications Technology (ICT) and language learning. Prior to working at Zayed University, he worked at a number of higher education institutions in Canada, Australia and the Middle East.

Tim Rogmans is Assistant Professor in Management at the College of Business at Zayed University in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. His work at Zayed University started as Director of Executive Education. His academic research work is in the areas of Foreign Direct Investment, sustainability performance, as well as innovative teaching methodologies, in general, and business simulation games, in particular.

Waseem Abaza joined the College of Business as an Assistant Professor of management, having completed his doctoral studies at Case Western Reserve University. He holds a BA in Political Science and Communication Studies from the University of Michigan and two masters degrees, an MBA and MA in Political Science, both from the University of Toledo. His research focuses on Sustainable Value creation, the role of Business in Peace-Building, Sustainable Innovation and Impact Assessment and Strategic Organizational Development.

Sanaa Kaddoura holds a PhD degree in computer science (2017) and a Master degree in information systems (2011) from Beirut Arab University/Lebanon. She has 10 years of experience in teaching computer science courses for undergraduate students. Currently, she is an instructor of information technology at Zayed University in the UAE. She has conducted research in Data Analysis and Data visualization. In 2013, Sanaa was awarded the Best Instructor Award at Beirut Arab University for being an exemplary lab instructor for computer science undergraduate students.

Fatima Al Harbi is an instructor in the College of Technological Innovation for the last two years. She is a Ph.D. candidate at Trinity College Dublin and she has a MSc in Telecommunications Engineering (George Washington University) and an MSc in Computer Science in Engineering (Purdue University). Fatima has over 16 years in the research and education field, eight years of industrial experience in software design, analysis, and testing.

Mohammad Amin Mozaheb is the head of the Department of Foreign Languages and an Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics/TEFL at Imam Sadiq University, in Iran. He has published extensively in international journals. He has been selected as the distinguished professor for the second consecutive year at Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. His research interests include Writing, Intercultural Communication, World Englishes, and EIL.

Mostafa Shahiditabar is a Lecturer at the Department of Foreign Languages at Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran. He is also a PhD student at Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran. He has published his articles in several international journals. He has also presented his papers in international conferences across the world. His research interests include Intercultural Communication, World Englishes, and EIL.

Mohammad Hossein Behnoud is a BA holder of English from Ershad University of Damavand, Tehran, Iran. His research interests include writing and genre-based studies.

Maurice Danaher is an Associate Professor in the College of Technological Innovation at Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. He received his PhD in Computing and Information Systems from Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. His research has been in the areas of Information Technology and Education. In IT he has published in security, artificial intelligence and computer graphics. In recent years his focus in Education research has moved towards issues related to quality in education.

Tony Rhodes holds a PhD in Information Systems Security from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia. He is currently employed as Associate Professor, College of Technological Innovation, Zayed University. Aside from his research interests in information security, Tony Rhodes is an active researcher in teaching and learning as it relates to graduate cognitive/life skills required for the transition to the workplace from higher education. He has been at Zayed University since 2004.

Iryna Lenchuk iis an Assistant Professor at the Department of Languages & Translation, College of Arts & Applied Sciences, Dhofar University, Salalah, The Sultanate of Oman.

Amer Ahmed is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Languages & Translation, College of Arts & Applied Sciences, Dhofar University, Salalah, The Sultanate of Oman.

Ghadah Al Murshidi is a faculty member in Curriculum and Instruction, and Linguistics departments in UAE University. Her Ph.D. study is in Curriculum and Instruction and Comparative and International Education. Her Master degrees in Educational Leadership and Applied Linguistics, are from Pennsylvania State University. Her research interests include Mobile and Blended Learning, Service Learning, Global Citizenship, Academic and Language Socialization.

Enas Abulibdeh is Assistant Professor in the College of Education. She is an Instructional Technology Specialist with over 15 years of international multicultural field experience in teaching, training, planning and developing courses at University level to improve the teaching/learning environment by using Instructional Technology. Dr Enas maintains a research agenda that includes: cloud computing, TA (technology accepting model), social media and blended learning, blogs and wikis, TPACK, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Digital Citizenship and STEM.

Amir Kaviani has taught at tertiary level for more than two decades. He has a BA in Translation Studies and a MA in Teaching of English as a Foreign Language. He also has a PhD in Language Teaching and Learning from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Amir is interested in Educational Psychology and Philosophy and in particular the role of cognitive and affective factors in learning. His current research investigates Zayed University students’ appraisals of their language learning experiences.

Ali Shehadeh is Professor of Applied Linguistics and TESOL in the Department of Curriculums and Methods of Instruction, College of Education. He was Chair (two terms) and Professor in the Department of Linguistics, UAEU. He has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Applied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and TESOL. He supervised or sat on the committees of over 35 Master’s and Doctoral dissertations in the region and beyond. He published in top-tier research journals in the field like Language Learning, TESOL Quarterly, System, Journal of Applied Linguistics and ELT Journal.

Abdurrahman Ghaleb Almekhlafi is an associate professor of Educational Technology at United Arab Emirates University. Dr. Almekhlafi received his MA and Ph.D. degrees from Arizona State University (ASU), USA. Dr. Almekhlafi has been involved in the College of Education Accreditation Process at UAE University since 2000. Dr. Almekhlafi is the owner and executive manager of Global Tadreeb for Educational Services and Consultations (http://globaltadreeb.com).

Lynnette Harper holds a Master of Library Science and a Master of Teaching English as a Second and Foreign Language. She is well-versed in the challenges of teaching and in publishing, but her real enthusiasm is reserved for supporting faculty find the simplest and easiest ways to be successful in their classrooms and in their own research goals.

Maisa El Gamal is Assistant Professor in the College of Natural and Health Sciences, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi. She carried out several research projects on environmental impacts, modeling and simulation methods for the design of industrialized systems, and solving environmental problems in the UAE. Dr. El Gamal has published in high impact journals and international refereed conference proceedings.

Jeff Verbeem (MEd, MLIS) is a librarian and faculty member in the Library and Learning Commons at Zayed University, Dubai. His professional focus includes the teaching and assessment of information literacy skills particularly for first year students in post-secondary contexts, as well as exploring ways to leverage peer learning to support student success.

Afshan Parkar holds a M.Sc. in Computer Science from Mumbai University in India. She has eight years’ experience in the field of education as a Faculty and Coordinator for Bachelors and Masters of Computer Science & IT with the University of Mumbai, India. Afshan is an entrepreneur for a software solutions company named Spark Infotech handling various technology-based projects.

Vasila Al Khaldi is an instructor in the Natural & Health Sciences College at Zayed University. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from United Arab Emirates University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in the same field. She has seven years’ experience in teaching and is certified as PQP from the Urban Planning Council of Abu Dhabi. Her main research focus is student interaction and enhancing learning experience, phycology of students and its effect on the student performance, along with environmentally sustainable systems, applications and designs.

Fatma Elshafie is currently a Cambridge CELTA Teacher Trainer, an EAP and ESAP instructor in the Academic Bridge Program at Zayed University in Dubai, UAE. Ms. Elshafie holds an MA with Distinction in Cognitive Linguistics from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt and the DELTA qualification from Cambridge, UK. Ms. Elshafie has done research on bilingualism, EAP reading and writing skills, Phonology, and corpus-based learning.

Mathew Nicho is an Assistant Professor at the College of Technological Innovation at Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates teaching and researching in the cyber security domain. Prior to this he was a lecturer in ‘cybersecurity’ and ‘IT governance’ at the School of Computing and Digital Media at Robert Gordon University, Scotland. During 2015 - 2016 he successfully completed the Fellow of the Higher Education Academy from Robert Gordon University, UK which motivated him to incorporate innovation in the classroom.

Patrick Lichty is a Conceptual Artist, Writer, and Educator exploring how media shape our perception of reality as well as the borders between the digital and the material. He is best known for his work with the virtual reality performance art group Second Front, and as the animator of the activist group, The Yes Men. He is a CalArts/Herb Alpert Fellow and Whitney Biennial exhibitor as part of the collective RTMark. He has presented and exhibited internationally at numerous biennials and triennials and conferences.

Khalid H. Albadawi is Assistant Professor at Turabiah University College, Taif University, Saudi Arabia. He is a lifetime member of the Scholarly Association of Teaching and Education Research and a member of the Reviewers’ Committee of Eminent Association of Researchers in Humanities & Management Sciences (EARHM).

Michelle Antero is an Assistant Professor at the College of Technological Innovation at Zayed University. Her research interest is in the role of mobile technology as they relate to knowledge work. She is also interested in the strategic management of networked resources in innovation. Prior to working in academia, she worked in the Communications and High Technology industry in Silicon Valley for 14 years.

Hashil Al-Saadi is a researcher, research trainer and language lecturer at the Centre for Preparatory Studies of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Oman. Dr Hashil holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from the University of Bristol in the UK and a PhD again in TESOL from the University of Sheffield, UK. His research interests include learner autonomy, critical pedagogy, teacher education in the 21st century and qualitative research methodologies.

Anita Teresa Boggu is a doctoral candidate in English Language Teaching at Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India. She currently works at Majan University College in Muscat, Oman as a Senior English Language Lecturer and a Program Manager for the BA (Honors) in English Language. Additionally, she has gained the status of a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), UK. Her major field of research is on experiential learning, language learning strategies and learner autonomy.

Khaled Karim has been working as an Assistant Professor of Linguistics at UAEU since 2015. Dr. Karim’s research interests focus on L2 acquisition, L2 writing strategies, written corrective feedback, and ESL pedagogy.

Martin Endley is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at UAEU. He joined UAEU in 2011, having previously worked at universities in Turkey and South Korea. Dr. Endley's primary research are L2 reading strategies, L2 vocabulary acquisition, written corrective feedback and perceptions of error gravity.

Michael Allen is Assistant Provost for Research at Zayed University. He has extensive experience in international education. Trained as a historian, Dr. Allen received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Washington and his Master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He holds undergraduate degrees in both History and Asian Studies from Brigham Young University. Dr. Allen is a specialist on East Asian history in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of his research has focused on Korea in the 19th and 20th centuries. His publications include books and articles on nationalism in East Asia, intellectual history, historiography, and the history of the world since 1500.

Ingrid Liekens is the Sr Specialist, Research Grants. She is a Belgian national who has been in UAE since 1997. Prior to joining the Office of Research, she worked with the UAE's National Research Foundation for 5.5 years. She has a broad experience in international organizations and the private sector, both in her native Belgium and the UAE. Ingrid has a Masters in translation for French and Spanish from KU Leuven, Campus Antwerp. Ingrid’s areas of responsibility are RIF grants, Research Cluster Grants, Provost Research Fellowship Awards, workshops, and external funds.

Huda Jamal has a Master in English, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA. She is faculty at Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Abu Dhabi. Huda is interested in utilizing efficient tools and strategies to facilitate active learning in her classes. Mobile technology, language deconstruction and eportfolios are her major interests. Also, literature and creative writing are her hobbies. She attended and presented at many conferences and she has published two papers on blended learning and eportfolios.

Olga Spuskanyuk teaches English language courses in the Foundations program at Abu Dhabi Women’s College. She has previously taught ESL classes at Rice University, Texas, USA, Lone Star College, Texas, USA, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA, Santa Barbara City College, California, USA, and several other colleges in Europe. She has presented at many conferences in the US, including CATESOL, TexTESOL, former TESOL Arabia, ALLT and served on the English language advisory committees at several public school districts in the US. Ms. Spuskanyuk has also collaborated with CALPRO (California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project)

Hisham AlSaghbini is the Senior Regional Recognition Manager for Central, Cambridge Assessment English. Prof. AlSaghbini comes with more than 15 years of international experience. He started his career as an academic researcher and lecturer at a number of universities in London. Hisham developed and built more than twenty different programmes for people with special needs including a comprehensive inclusive employment guide for the government authorities in Dubai. Hisham holds a Bachelor in Business, a Masters in Strategy in Education and his doctorate was on Inclusiveness in Education and bridging the (under)achievement gap in Higher Education in the UK.