Our Speakers

Konstantinos Petridis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering at the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) and the director of the HMU International Relations Office. He obtained his Ph.D. in physics from the University of St. Andrews (UK) in 2002. His research focuses on the applications of lasers in materials processing and their applications in third-generation solar cells and gas sensing. He demonstrates high expertise and extended laboratory experience in laser technology and physics, in the ultrafast laser processing techniques of graphene and graphene-based optoelectronic devices, and laser- induced decoration of 2D materials with nanomaterials. He has coordinated 12 Erasmus and Erasmus Plus projects, and actively participated as a teacher, manager, and sub-coordinator in another 10 Erasmus projects. He has participated as a researcher in 12 national & international research programs. For the last three years, the Academic Coordinator of the HMU International Office and also the general secretary of the ATHENA European University.

• Keynote Speaker: The ATHENA European University & ATHENA Soft Skills Academy

Manolis Lourakis is a PhD candidate in the Hellenic Mediterranean University, at the Department of Electronic Engineering, since 2021. He was born in Chania, Crete, Greece in 1971 and received formal public education until the age of 19, when he entered the Hellenic Force Academy. He graduated as a Flying Officer of the Hellenic Air Force in 1994 and served in various types of aircraft in different places in Greece and abroad as a fighter pilot. During his 19 years career he accumulated approximately 1500 flying hours and received various kinds of training and expertise’s like academic instructor, instructor pilot, human factor specialist and accident investigator. After his retirement from active duty in 2010, he attended the undergraduate course of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete, in the Department of Electronic Engineering where he received his B.Sc. in Electronic Engineering in 2015. Two years after that he was admitted to the graduate school in the same institution where he received his master’s degree in Electronic Automations and Telecommunications, in the year 2020. His doctorate research focuses on innovative ways of teaching STEM in higher education along with new pedagogical methods for increasing student’s engagement and soft skills. During his academic path he has published three research papers in scientific journals and conferences.

• Building your Collaboration Skills.

• Applying Scrum framework in a Physics course (AGILE Europe Conference).

Dr. Nava Shaked is the head of School of Multidisciplinary Studies at HIT Holon Institute of Technology, Israel (https://www.hit.ac.il/en/Multidisciplinary/Overview) and an Adjunct professor at the PhD program at CUNY GC, Computational Linguistics Department. Shaked is an expert in Natural Language processing, artificial Intelligence and in Human-Machine interaction, with 20 years' experience both in speech technology research as well as leading major projects in Israel, Europe and the US. Shaked specializes in AI & Voice Technologies. Her 1st book (co-authored by Ute Winter) "Design of Multimodal Mobile Interfaces" was published in 2016 (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781501502736/html) and her 2nd book “The Grid of the Arts” (co-authored by Prof. Liora Bigon) was publishes Sep 2021 both by DE Gruyter publishing house (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110733228/html)

• Keynote Speaker: The Holon Institute of Technology Multidisciplinary School.

• Artificial Intelligence Professional Skills.

Dr. Bengü is an Assistant Professor at Abdullah Gül University (AGU) in Kayseri, Turkey. Bengü received her B.S. in Measurement and Evaluation in Education from Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. She earned her M.S. and Ed.D from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. In 2016, she joined AGU and was appointed as the Coordinator of the Center for Learning and Teaching (CeLT). In 2021, she became the coordinator for Global Issues & Responsibilities Courses. In this new position, she is working with a team of interdisciplinary faculty members, designing courses within the aim of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Dr. Bengü is currently working on contemplative pedagogy, wellbeing in higher education and the adaptation of preparing future faculty programs for the Turkish context, which she received a research fund for.

• Keynote Speaker: The Center for learning & teaching (CeLT).

• How to build your work & life balance to create a more productive life.

• Higher Education for SDG (1st Europe Agile Conference).

• Keynote Talk: Why Agile Scrum in Higher Education.

• Workshop in how to apply Scrum 1st Europe Agile in Education Conference)

Ioannis Kaliakatsos is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering in HMU, Greece. He has served from many years as a Vice -Rector and as the academic director of the International Office. He is the initiator of many international activities in HMU among them the organization of International Weeks.

• Organisation committee of the 9th International Week.

• Round Table Discussion 'The Internationalisation of the Higher Education and the role of the European University Alliances' (panelist).

Since 2001 I've been lecturing at ISEP-IPP in diverse course units, in the fields of Language Skills, Communication, and Project Management. I was Erasmus coordinator at the Informatics Engineering Department, and have ever since been involved in diverse European projects. These activities have led me to research how to develop engineering students’ awareness of interpersonal and intercultural skills' fundamental role in both academic and professional worlds, and to engage in diverse talks and seminars about this subject. In 2014, I became a Ph.D. in "Communication Sciences, Communication, and the Arts" from the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of the New University of Lisbon. I'm currently a leading researcher at the GILT Research Unit (Games, Interaction and Learning Technologies), and my main research interests range from interactive media, digital and urban arts, serious games, education, and culture-related fields. I'm especially interested in the role these areas play in education, and in social change and improvement.

• Workshop on "Developing awareness about soft skills in IT Engineering Students".

• How to develop your design thinking.

• Round Table Discussion 'The Internationalisation of the Higher Education and the role of the European University Alliances' (panelist).

Jonathan Westlake is a freelance academic and self-employed entrepreneur/Director, working at both Staffordshire University and Salford University Business school in part time roles. He is also a quality assurance reviewer for a number of UK universities and colleges. Commercially he is involved in innovation projects and apprenticeship provision which reflects his ongoing enthusiasm of IT for Good, which is the motto of the British Computer Society (BCS) for which he is vice chair and secretary of the North Staffordshire branch. One of challenges still within the UK and worldwide is the development of soft skills particularly for early career employees and Jonathan is proactive in this area with his various roles. His research interests include Fintech and information systems digital transformation.

• Reflective and critical writing.

• The importance of note-taking as a soft skill.

• How to write and publish a blog including how to make it compelling.

• The emergence of NFTs and their impact in Higher Education.

• Round Table Discussion 'The Internationalisation of the Higher Education and the role of the European University Alliances' (panelist).

• Building your coaching skills (Day #1)

Viola Tasch is an international relations specialist and experienced in implementing and managing international programs with a focus on transatlantic exchange. She is currently responsible for international affairs at the Berlin Professional School (Berlin School of Economics and Law, Germany) and, establishes partnerships with business schools worldwide and public and private partners focusing on short-term exchange programs for MBA candidates.

• Blended mobility: virtual global classroom combined with a short-term exchange.

Researcher, teacher and project manager, working with domestic and international partners on a daily basis. I hold an undergraduate degree (double masters in mathematics and finance and banking) and a PhD in economics. My main research interests focus on financial markets, monetary policy and sustainable finance. Active teacher at domestic and foreign universities (as a visiting professor), preparing lectures in teaching a wide range of topics in finance, quantitative methods, alternative investments, risk measurement and management, pure and applied mathematics, statistics and probability. Head of Department of Applied Mathematics and a director of double degree Master Studies Quantitative Asset and Risk Management ARIMA, actively participating in projects focused among others on internationalization of the specialization that I am responsible for. Projects tasks covered: curriculum development, preparation of double degree agreements with foreign universities, application for international business accreditations, establishing of business partnerships, creating a new paths for students’ exchange to improve their mobility (long and short term). https://pl.linkedin.com/in/ewa-dziwok-ab7817b5

• How to prepare an interactive presentation.

Nuno is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Engineering of the Polytechnic of Porto, teaching at the Informatics Department and doing his research at the GILT research lab in machine learning. He has a Ph.D. in Informatics from the University of Porto. Nuno has a long experience in the internationalization of higher education and curriculum development. He has been coordinating a capstone project course in a blended format for the last 15 years. Nuno is coordinating the ATHENA European University and cooperating with several organizations in Higher Education (Vice-President of the European Association of Erasmus Coordinators, Vice-President of the European Association of Career Guidance, member of the advisory board of INNOTECS – International Network of Technical Schools, coordinator of the Praxis Network).

• Keynote Speaker: The impact of Blended Mobility to Internationalization.

• Round Table Discussion 'The Internationalisation of the Higher Education and the role of the European University Alliances' (panelist).

• Leadership- why is it important within globalized (internationalized) world - Petridis

• Active listening- what is it and how is it important for us - Petridis

Nina Blasonig studied languages in combination with economics and law at the University of Graz. After working 10 years in industry, she joined FH JOANNEUM where she is responsible for project management and controlling of R&D projects, international relations and marketing at her department. She teaches “Intercultural communication” at the master’s level.

• Building your Intercultural Communication.

• Gamification Solutions for education and management (Europe Agile Conference).

• The Blended Intensive Program Initiative.

PhD. studies at Technical University in Zvolen in discipline of Forest Ecology at Faculty of Forestry (Zvolen, Slovakia 2000). Since 2005 I am Associate Professor of Forest climatology and Bioclimatology at Faculty of Forestry at Technical University in Zvolen, specialist in water balance, bioclimatology of forest ecosystems, transpiration of forest tree species and bioclimatic impacts of drought on forest ecosystems. I have introduced on-line lessons at our department using TS TEAMS and also created on line platform - web page for forest meteorological monitoring www.forestweather.sk. The project creates integrated infrastructure and web application of forest biometeorological measurements with a unique online transfer of measured data from vulnerable forest and mountain areas. Such application will allow evaluating operatively a range of climate-related risks (droughts, fires, floods and pest outbreaks) in forests to inform the foresters and broader public as well is applicable in the process of university educations at all degrees.

• “New teaching and research platform - web application with a unique online transfer of measured data”.

• Writing and sharing personal stories.

• Developing Soft Skills for middle aged trainees in hospitality sector.

My name is Miriam Valkova and I work at my alma mater Technical University in Zvolen in Slovakia as administrative staff at Faculty of Forestry, Department of Natural Environment. My current job includes administration and make accessible scientific and technical literature and information at home Department for pedagogical and research workers and students via using digital technologies. In addition, I use soft skills gained through my experience as student mobility coordinator at Department level in cooperation with University International Relations Office, preparing meetings and workshops. I use positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage myself to work hard. My work is my inspiration. I like to work with people, travel, hike, get to know new technologies and uzilize student oriented communication skills, gained through my experience as volunteer in summer camps.

• Open minds and be prepared for the future (University as open space for Digital and Soft Skills Development).

Doctor of Economics in Management Science, graduate of the Kensington College of Business in London (Business Administration), Wrocław University (English Philology) and Wrocław University of Economics (Executive MBA). She worked as an Academic Teacher at several universities, a Spokesperson at Wrocław University of Economics, Director of NCJE Language School and Project Manager at Mainseek. Currently she holds a position of Vice-Rector for Development and Internationalization, Director of MBA and Postgraduate Programs, as well as Adjunct Professor at the Department of Management, Finance and Accounting at the University of Business in Wroclaw.

• Round Table Discussion 'The Internationalisation of the Higher Education and the role of the European University Alliances' (panelist).

• Participation in the 1st Europe Agile Education in Higher Education, 'Innovative EdTech Tools for Enhancing Teaching and Learning'

• Distance education versus stationary education of architecture students in the light of the pandemic time experience.

Tomaž Aljaž has over 25 years of professional experience in Information; telecommunication. He is employed in Spar Slovenija where he is managing IT projects with a particular focus on improving performance of the project team, establishing and maintaining an optimal use of resources and reducing the operational risks. He is also a faculty member of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Novo mesto, Slovenia. His past experiences are related to the R&D environment where he worked as a Resource, Project, Product, and Solution manager. He has published several papers on the information technology and telecommunication area, resource management, project management, and process improvements using the theory of the Constraints methodology. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering received from the Faculty of Electro Engineering and Computer Science of Maribor and has completed courses in Constraint Management at the Washington State University, USA. For over 11 years he has taught at a graduate and postgraduate level the topics related to performance improvement of organizations, project management, information technology and telecommunication. In 2018 and 2019 he was granted a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certificate, and in 2014 a Jonah certificate, by the Theory Of Constraints International Certification Organization (TOCICO).

Invited Lecture: Resolving conflicts in daily life by using Goldratt's Evaporating Cloud.

The Presentation slides - please click here.

Specializes in human resources management. The researcher collaborates closely with the IT business. As a Human Resources Business Partner in high-technology companies, she is responsible for recruitment processes, talent acquisition, and leaders` development. An expert in Start-up Foundation. A researcher is open to collaboration and sharing scientific knowledge as well as a business practice.

• Workshop Session: Building a successful project team (Day #1)

  1. Dr. Qobad Shafiee (University of Kurdistan)

• Workshop Session: What does the leader can do, to make his team happy and efficient? (Day #2)

Duration: 2-3 hours / Max. #Perticipants: 20

Eli Jacobson is a senior lecturer HIT, Industrial designer and innovation consultant – expert in the fields of wearable tech, IOT and fashion tech. He received His MA from Domus academy Milan, where he remained, worked and opened his design studio. Eli collaborated with many international brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, Swatch and Hitachi electronics. His work includes designing optical frames and sunglasses, watches, fashion accessories, technological products and consumer electronics. He holds a multidisciplinary background which led him to his Wearable/tech expertise today.

Invited Lecture: Innovation and futuristic technologies - Why and how we teach wearable computing? (1st Agile Europe Conference).